Salman Khan addressed the Bigg Boss 20 casting backlash during Weekend Ka Vaar, acknowledging selection shortcomings while pushing contestants to make a stronger impact.
MUMBAI: The Bigg Boss 20 casting backlash has reached host Salman Khan, who addressed criticism surrounding this season’s line-up during the reality show’s first Weekend Ka Vaar and delivered a sarcastic message to contestants about their contribution to the programme.
Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6 with 16 contestants from television, music, sport, social media and other backgrounds. However, some viewers questioned the selection after relatively few major television and film names entered the house.
What did Salman Khan say about the contestants?
Speaking to actor Amrapali Dubey during the weekend episode, Salman acknowledged that even a carefully considered selection process does not always deliver exactly as planned.
He told the contestants that thousands of prospective participants are interviewed before the final 16 are chosen, with the process taking around eight months.
Salman also pointed out that contestants who complain about receiving limited screen time need to consider whether their actions are interesting enough to make the final edit.
The Bigg Boss 20 casting backlash then became the subject of some typically dry Salman humour.
Turning sarcastic, he told the housemates that hosting them was a “privilege”, before referring to their rule-breaking, emotions, behaviour and other ingredients that create drama inside the house.
But his broader message was more serious: being selected for Bigg Boss gives contestants an opportunity to introduce themselves to a much wider audience.
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Who is competing on Bigg Boss 20?
The season includes Mahhi Vij, Aasif Khan, Amrapali Dubey, Aman Gandhi, Kanika Mann, ScoutOP, Yung DSA, Rohed Khan, Arishfa Khan, Rhiti Tiwari, Isha Rikhi, Uditi Singh, Qazi Touqeer, Love Gill, Mary Kom and Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu.
Salman argued that Bigg Boss has never depended entirely on established stars. The format can also give lesser-known participants an opportunity to build an audience through their personalities and performances.
Some contestants have already begun attracting attention. Singer Qazi Touqeer, for example, received praise from Salman during the first Weekend Ka Vaar, while others were encouraged to become more visible and active.
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Has the criticism changed after the first week?
The Bigg Boss 20 casting backlash has not disappeared, but Salman suggested perceptions of some contestants were already changing after only a week inside the house.
That puts greater pressure on the less-visible housemates as the competition develops. With weeks of challenges, nominations and interactions still ahead, the real test will be whether this unconventional mix can generate the personalities and moments viewers expect from the long-running reality franchise.
Impact to expect
Attention. Salman’s comments could increase interest in the contestants while putting pressure on quieter housemates to deliver stronger personalities, rivalries and entertainment in the coming episodes.
