Bigg Boss 9 Telugu: Launch date, host salary, tasks — all about Nagarjuna's show
The ninth season of Bigg Boss Telugu will begin on September 7, 2025 and viewers can stream it on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium. Akkineni Nagarjuna returns as host for the sixth time, bringing his trademark style and class to the show.
Akkineni Nagarjuna returns as the host for BB Telugu
This season will be quite different from previous ones, as commoners will join the show for the first time. To select them, the makers have planned a special programme titled Bigg Boss 9 Telugu: Agnipariksha.
According to a source close to the show, shooting for Agnipariksha began recently in Hyderabad. Around 40 commoners have been shortlisted, and they will compete in special tasks. The last three standing will be declared winners and will join the final list of celebrities in the main season.
The makers have started erecting a massive set at Annapurna Studios, Hyderabad, where the show will be shot for the next three months.
This is the first time something like this has been attempted for the Telugu version, inspired by the massive response from the general audience wanting to participate. In the Malayalam version of Bigg Boss, which can also be streamed on OTTplay Premium, commoners have been part of the show in the previous two editions.
Nagarjuna takes home
₹ 30Cr as host?
While there is no official confirmation yet, one of the team members tells OTTplay that Akkineni Nagarjuna is being paid close to a whopping ₹30 crore to host the show. Several big names from the TV and Telugu film industry are also expected to join this season as contestants.
Fans of Bigg Boss Telugu can also check out similar reality shows like Unstoppable with NBK, Sarkaar, Chef Mantra, and Indian Idol on OTTplay Premium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shodha's Pawan Kumar on why young actors should not only depend on the big screen
Kannada actor-filmmaker Pawan Kumar leads a new Kannada suspense thriller show called Shodha, which is set to come to Z5 (via OTTplay Premium also) on August 22, 2025. This is the platform's second original Kannada series only, and the buzz in the industry has been about the budgetary constraints that teams collaborating with the streamer have been facing. Pawan, who has served as script doctor on the show for fine-tuning and giving it a better sense of direction, admits that the budgets allocated for Kannada shows are low, but doesn't see it as a deterrent. Pawan Kumar in Shodha Instead, he believes that people like him owe it to the Kannada industry, which has been neglected by streaming platforms for years, to step up, work within these limitations, create content and build an audience. This, he believes, will, in due course of time, encourage other platforms to invest on Kannada content and create more jobs. Pawan Kumar: These days, actors make 1 film in 3-4 years; movies are eating up a lot of their time Pawan, who has not worked in Kannada for a while - his last film being Dhoomam in Malayalam – says that his observation is that everyone's stuck in this idea of only being able to work within certain budgets, which tend to be on the higher side. 'Here (Zee with shows like Shodha), the budgets are not massive, like you'd see on other major platforms. Zee is also experimenting, because the business dynamics don't really tell them that they should even do this in Kannada. It's something that they are trying out, so the budgets are small,' he admits. The actor-filmmaker adds that with a series like Shodha, audiences should not care about the budgets, because they get to watch something engaging. As far as industry folks go, Pawan says that Shodha will show them what can be achieved within such budgets. 'Young directors, writers and actors should pick these projects and do more of them. I don't think we should depend on the big screen as the only avenue, especially the young folks who have just come into the industry or have done a film or two. It's really eating up a lot of their time,' he says. Pawan elaborates that back when he was assisting filmmaker Yogaraj Bhat, there was a minimum guarantee that with every actor, at least one film could be done in a year. 'That's now become one in 3-4 years sort of a situation. I really hope that the story and the way audiences respond to Shodha encourages others to think that budgets are not a limiting factor, but can be a way to be more creative,' he says. Also read: Shodha on OTT: Pawan Kumar-led suspense thriller the remake of THIS Hindi series? Unlike films, where filmmakers deal with the pressure of return on investment, with series, platforms are not looking at it in terms of money earned from one project, he adds. 'They are looking at the growth of the platform over a period of a year or two. That takes away pressure from the creator, which in turn gives him a little more room to think about the story, performances. I think that's a great space for a creator to go and safely do something that they believe in,' Pawan says.
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Upasana Konidela takes us inside Ram Charan and her stunning South Indian-style Hyderabadi villa
Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson – CSR – Apollo Hospitals, and wife to Telugu superstar Ram Charan, recently opened up her house for a rare visit. The power couple, who generally like to keep away from public and media scrutiny, took host and interviewer Kamiya Jani around for a tour around their luxe Hyderabad house, flanked by manicured gardens and lush greenery. Soft white exteriors juxtaposed with glass accents give it a modern-day royal palace look. Despite being located in the middle of a bustling city, their home manages to retain a vintage, earthy feel. The fact that the couple enjoys nature is well reflected in the bits and pieces scattered all around. The seating area outside features plush patio furniture, perfect for enjoying breezy evenings and a cup of tea. Their garage is well concealed in the exterior with creepers replacing a heavy gate. Step inside the house and you are welcomed by a living room that transports you back to a traditional South Indian home, with rich upholstered sofas and chairs and black and white flooring. Old school windows allow sun rays to peek through and bathe the room in light and shadows. A blend of modern design and a nod to their cultural roots. A post shared by Curly Tales | A Fork Media Group Co. (@ Catching a break in between the house tour, Upasana spilled the tea on who among the two can tolerate spicy food, and Charan's love for rasam. 'We used to go to the best restaurants in the world, and then he would come back and say, 'Okay, now, I need Indian food, where are we going to find Indian food?' She shared how any of his meals of the day have to be Indian, and South Indian in particular. From antique wooden artifacts, traditional showpieces, and unique collectibles sourced from travels around the world, the interior decor is an amalgamation of their travels and lived experiences. A larger-than-life black horse statue takes up space in the living room, complemented by lush green indoor plants, antique lamps, and an antique clock. The house also draws inspiration from South Indian culture, with ventilation and wooden panels that allow just the right amount of privacy while opening up the space to neighbours and guests. A grand dining hall features a large dinner table sitting underneath a chandelier, which throws off warm golden light.
Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Best OTT releases to stream in each Indian language this week: Tehran to Janaki V vs State of Kerala
From an action-packed thriller to a compelling courtroom drama and a cop series are among the latest offerings in the OTT space this week. John Abraham's Tehran opts for direct OTT premiere, while Suresh Gopi's controversial film Janaki V vs State of Kerala too makes its digital debut a month after it released in theatres. On the other hand, Varsha Bollama shoulders a Telugu series in Constable Kanakam. Check out the best OTT releases to stream across Indian languages this week (August 11 - 17, 2025) Tehran, Janaki V vs State of Kerala Latest OTT releases, across languages John Abraham powers through Tehran as special officer Rajeev Kumar who vows revenge after the 2012 bombing in Delhi. But as he sets out to Tehran to take down the mastermind behind the bombing, his secret mission is jeopardised. Helmed by Arun Gopalan, the action-packed thriller also features Manushi Chhillar. If a film high on patriotic fervors is what you are looking for this Independence weekend, you should check out the John Abraham-starrer which skipped its theatrical release. Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi, who is also a BJP MP, stars as a feisty lawyer in this courtroom drama, which narrates Janaki's ordeal and fight for justice. Actress Anupama Parameswaran, who has a star status in Telugu industry, plays the lead role of the assault victim. The film was also in the news after the Censor Board objected to the name Janaki being used. This film follows Santhakumar, who works at a garment factory in a Tamil Nadu town. After a gruelling day at work, Santhakumar gets way too drunk and stirs up trouble. Actor Prithiviraj Ramalingam plays the lead role in the film, which does bring in some novel ideas. A woman cop, the first from her village, is at the centre of this series which delves into the mysterious disappearance of women. Constable Kanakam is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery after her friend Chandrika too goes missing. Actress Varsha Bollama stars in the titular role of the series, which promises a gripping cop thriller. The film revolves around insurance agent Pali, who is quite fed up with his boss, and comes up with a plan to abduct him. But he drops the plan after Sonia intervenes. Malkiat Meet and Raj Dhaliwal, among others, star in this Punjabi film, which promises a chaotic blend of crime and comedy.
