Big Boss 19, to be hosted by Salman Khan, could set a new record for reality show. What we know so far

Economic Times

8 hours ago

Synopsis
Bigg Boss 19 is set to premiere with Salman Khan returning as host. This season introduces Habubu, an AI robot doll, as a contestant, marking a franchise first. The show will feature a 'Rewind' theme, the return of the Secret Room, and a longer runtime of 5.5 months. Apoorva Mukhija has been approached, while Ram Kapoor has declined participation.
Salman Khan will be back to host one of the most popular TV shows, Bigg Boss 19. Bigg Boss is back — and this time, it's pushing boundaries like never before. The iconic reality show, hosted once again by Salman Khan, is all set for its 19th season with a format shake-up, a record-breaking runtime, and its most unconventional contestant yet: an AI-powered robot doll named Habubu. Bigg Boss 19 is shaping up to be a season like no other.
In a groundbreaking first for the franchise, Bigg Boss 19 will welcome Habubu, an interactive AI robot doll developed by UAE-based company IFCM. Known for her expressive face, traditional Arabic attire, and multilingual capabilities (including Hindi), Habubu has already built a massive fan base in the Gulf. She's equipped with conversational intelligence, emotional recognition, and domestic functionality — features that could give her an unexpected edge in a high-pressure social experiment like Bigg Boss. IFCM, notably, also managed former contestant Abdu Rozik, further fueling curiosity around Habubu's performance inside the house.
Social media personality Apoorva Mukhija, aka, Rebel Kid, confirmed in a Pinkvilla interview that she was approached for the show. While she didn't give a definitive yes or no, she said, 'Never say never.' However, Apoorva added that being in a confined space could trigger anxiety for her. 'As someone who already overthinks, it's a tough space,' she said, but didn't rule it out completely, admitting that 'paise se kya hai upar duniya mein?'
Superstar Salman Khan will return as the host of Bigg Boss 19, reaffirming his position as the franchise's anchor. As per a Pinkvilla report, the teaser shoot is scheduled between July 8 and 12. The show, produced by Banijay Asia, will debut directly on television in August before transitioning to its OTT version later in the season. This dual-format run is expected to last 5.5 months, making it the longest season in Bigg Boss history.
Business Standard, citing a source who spoke to SCREEN, shared that this year's tentative theme is titled Rewind, suggesting a nostalgic throwback to earlier seasons. The show will also bring back the beloved 'Secret Room' — a hidden chamber where the bottom two contestants are placed in isolation to observe the game unfold from afar. This element was a fan favourite in earlier seasons and is expected to introduce unexpected twists to the gameplay.
In an interview with Filmibeat, actor Ram Kapoor firmly dismissed rumours of joining Bigg Boss 19. He stated that reality shows like Bigg Boss aren't for him, saying even an offer of ₹20 crore wouldn't persuade him. He believes such shows are mostly about voyeurism, and it's about people watching others living their lives. He also added that he prefers to remain a private person and believes he wouldn't be a good fit for the format.Several names have surfaced as potential housemates this season- Tiger Shroff's sister, Krishna Shroff, who was last seen in Khatron Ke Khiladi 14, Shilpa Shetty Kundra's husband, Raj Kundra, actresses Tanushree Dutta, Mamta Kulkarni and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame, Babitaji, aka Munmun Dutta. Names of Sharad Malhotra and Gaurav Taneja, aka Flying Beast, have also cropped up.