Mere hours before the premiere of Bigg Boss 12 on Sunday, a confirmed list of the contestants has been ‘leaked’. According to Indian Express, Dipika Kakar, Srishty Rode, Karanvir Bohra, Nehha Pendse, S Sreesanth, Anup Jalota, Jasleen Matharu are among the ‘celebrities’ who will take part in the popular reality show, hosted by actor Salman Khan.
The report also includes what appear to be portraits of the contestants, taken for the show. The list confirms several of the names that were being rumoured for Bigg Boss 12 which will be hosted by Salman for the sixth consecutive year.
Deepika Kakar
Among the high profile names are TV actor Dipika Kakar, known for Sasural Simar Ka and reportedly one of the highest-paid contestants on Bigg Boss 12. “Bigg Boss is a mind game. I am not prepared for it. Actually, you can’t prepare yourself, once you get into it then you know how it is like. What I like about the show is that people from different backgrounds come together and there are moments of togetherness,” Dipika told PTI.
The actor said she never planned to participate in the reality TV show hosted by superstar Salman Khan. “Bigg Boss 12 was not a planned move. I have never been calculative with my career. Last year, when I was offered the show I was not able to do it as marriage was on cards but this year I felt let me give it a thought. When everything worked out well, it was like let’s go and experience it,” she added.
S Sreesanth
Former cricketer S Sreesanth, currently serving a lifetime ban for his part in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal will also be one of the contestants on the show. Sreesanth has ventured into a career in films since his cricket career ended. He has also beefed up significantly, as pictures on his Instagram show.
Karanvir Bohra
Actor Karanvir Bohra, who unequivocally denied being a part of Bigg Boss 12 only days ago, is also a part of the show. “Yes, I have been approached for the show. I think I have been the only actor who has been constantly approached since season 1. I feel privileged to be approached by them, but this time also I am not doing the show,” he had said towards the end of August, citing his reluctance to stay away from his family as the biggest reason for his refusal.
Neha Pendse
Neha, who has appeared in Hindi and Marathi films, was last seen in Family Time with Kapil. She said in a recent interview that she hopes to introduce herself to audiences personally on Bogg Boss 12, because despite having worked in the industry for 20 years, she has developed an unfavourable reputation.
“I don’t have to do ‘Bigg Boss’ because I am out of work or I want to get more work. In spite of working in the industry for 20 years, people don’t know me. It is not right. I have been known as snooty and introvert. I need to be part of the show for myself rather than getting work,” Neha told PTI.
Srishty Rode
TV actors have always fared well in Bigg Boss. Srishty Rode, of Ishqbaaaz, Choti Bahu 2, Saraswatichandra fame, will hope the momentum continues in her favour. Srishty also appeared on the second season of the show Choti Bahu. She was initially expected to enter the show along with her boyfriend but that deal fell through, according to Indian Express.
Anup Jalota
The veteran bhajan singer has said that he hopes his spirituality and discipline will help him in his Bigg Boss journey. “Everyone is not same. There are problems in a family, these things do happen. I am so much involved in spiritual and classical music… I don’t have anger left in my life. I love music, I love to sing. It will be interesting to see how it is going to be inside the Bigg Boss 12 house,” Jalota told PTI.
“When people would fight I will try to give solution. It is essential to understand that we often get angry because of someone else. I believe solving problem is important,” he adds. He told the Times of India that the change in the Bigg Boss 12 time slot came because of his insistence.
Jasleen Matharu
Joining Anup inside the Bigg Boss house is Jasleen Matharu. According to Indian Express, it has been rumoured that the two have been dating. Jasleen frequently performs alongside Anup at his shows.
Among the commoner pairs of Bigg Boss 12 are the cop and lawyer duo of Nirmal Singh and Romil Chaudhary. They will be joined by Sourabh Patel and Shivashish Mishra, two friends from Madhya Pradesh, Deepak Thakur and Urvashi Vani, a singer and his fan, and sisters Saba Khan and Somi Khan.
Sourabh is a farmer, while Shivansh is a businessman. Deepak gained recognition for singing a song in the Gangs of Wasseypur soundtrack when he was 14 and Urvashi is a fan of his. Meanwhile, the sisters have promised that their relationship will not get in the way of the show.
A day ahead of Bigg Boss 12 season premiere, the official Colors Twitter account revealed that four potential contestants – Ex-Roadies Kriti Verma and Surbhi Rana and Roshmi Banik and Mital Joshi – were already present in an outhouse and would be subjected to an eviction on day 1.
This season’s format will have contestants separated into pairs — both celebrity and ‘commoners’. Salman had earlier introduced Bharti Singh and husband Harsh Limbachiya as the first ‘jodi’ of contestants on the show, but not as contestants.
Bigg Boss 12 begins September 16 and will telecast for the next three months from Monday to Sunday (Weekend Ka Vaar included) at 9pm on Colors TV.