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Review: Bigg Boss 7 claims to be the most UNPREDICTABLE season yet
With a whole new set of changes and an interesting mix of inmates, Bigg Boss 7 looks poised to outdo itself.
The seventh season of Bigg Boss, if you go by host Salman Khan’s several reminders during the two and a half hour-long inaugural episode from Sunday night, is different from the previous seasons.
Before we get into the details of said changes in the show, there are several changes we notice ourselves.
First off, Salman -- returning as Bigg Boss host for the fourth time -- seems to have eased into his role as the host.
He looks less dazed as he mouths off wisecracks, flirts (only mild inappropriateness takes place) with the women inmates on stage and humours Ratan Rajput when she presents him with a mock-proposal.
Salman gets a breather as comedian Kapil Sharma takes charge briefly with his Comedy Nights with Kapil cast. Then there's Akshay Kumar, who makes a brief appearance to talk about his upcoming film Boss.
Speaking of which, did Bigg Boss have a change of guard? His voice sounded slightly different from what we've heard over the years.
Amidst all the introductions and guest appearances, we are informed that the stay in the house will be for 105 days (as opposed to last year’s 90 days) and inmates will be watched by 74 cameras 24/7.
This season’s house is divided into two parts -- Jannat (heavan), designed like the standard Bigg Boss houses, and Jahannum (hell) that resembles a more primitive-style accommodation with Indian toilets and a mud floor.
Also accompanying Bigg Boss in the house will be a female warden to discipline the star inmates.
Talking about inmates (there are 14 this year), this season happens to have the most interesting lineup of all.
From Tanisha Mukherjee to Anita Advani, Gauhar Khan and Hazel Keech, we’ll see some really well-known faces bunk up with actor Armaan Kohli, wrestler Sangram Singh and producer/director and Salman’s close friend Rajat Rawail.
Here’s a look at Bigg Boss 7 contestants.
Tanisha Mukherji
The first and probably the most surprising name in the lineup -- there were reports of friction in the Mukherjee-Devgn household as Tanuja, Kajol and Ajay Devgn reportedly tried their best to dissuade Tanisha from signing up for the controversial reality show.
But there she was, the ‘family brat’ in the words of her mother Tanuja, dressed in a short red and golden number as she arrived on stage.
After her rather long-winded introduction that mostly has Salman rattling off names from her formidable family tree, the actress proceeds to the house.
Gauhar Khan
This leggy model and actress has earned praises for her dancing skills and acting chops in films like Ishaqzaade and Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year and delivers an entertaining performance on the Bigg Boss stage.
She enters the house through the heaven side of the house with a wide-eyed excitement and constantly cheers up Ratan Rajput, who lands up in Jahannum.
Hazel Keech
Salman’s Bodyguard costar Hazel Keech appears on stage in a white salwar kameez.
She’s learnt considerable Hindi since her Bollywood debut and converses in her endearing accent. She smiles sportingly when her costar makes a sly comment about her plump frame.
Veejay Andy
The snarky veejay from several Channel [V] reality shows, Andy arrives dressed in a quirky suit and eye-catching sneakers.
While Salman promptly christens him this season’s Imam (Siddiqui), Andy showcases more flair and tact while verbally sparring with the host.
He gets along well with Tanisha inside the house.
Kushal Tandon
Actor Kushal Tandon, who delivers a rather lackluster performance on Badtameez dil, gets off on the wrong foot with Andy when he’s told that he’d have to share a bed with the veejay if he goes to Jannat, as they're the only men there at the time.
He doesn’t bat an eyelid and declares that he can’t share a bed with the veejay. Andy handles it quite graciously.
Homophobe much, Kushal?
Pratyusha Banerjee
Balika Vadhu actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who played a docile, conservative bahu in the show, had her own (much toned down) version of Miley Cyrus at the VMAs moment on Big Boss.
Dressed in a skimpy blouse and lehenga, the actress put up a feisty performance on Rani Mukerji’s Aga bai from Aiyyaa.
Ratan Rajput
This pint-sized television actress is the most hyperactive of the lot -- she presents gifts to Salman Khan and asks him to marry her.
When she gets in the Jahannum side of the house, Gauhar is more depressed to see the arrangement than her.
Sangram Singh
Wrestler Sangram Singh's inspiring life story and early struggles with arthritis as a kid win him many admirers and sympathisers in the house.
He speaks less and is amiable.
Elli Avram
Swedish starlet Elli Avram, who makes her Bollywood debut in Manish Paul starrer Mickey Virus soon, will serve as yet another eye-candy this season.
She’s mild-mannered and converses in broken Hindi.
Armaan Kohli
Actor Armaan Kohli (you may remember him from the atrocious Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani), though mild-mannered, confesses that he’s come to the Bigg Boss house to learn to be more patient while Salman hints that he may have a temper problem.
Kohli promises to entertain his audience before making his way to the house.
Apoorva Agnihotri and Shilpa Saklani
This television actor couple has been married for over nine years and looked nervous when they’re told that one of them will be going to the other side.
Shilpa breaks down and is later seen requesting Ratan to take care of Apoorva.
Kamya Panjabi
Actress Kamya Panjabi, who’s racked up quite a few vamp roles in her repertoire, announces upon arrival that she had shades of her negative characters in real life and that she’s no miss goody two shoes.
However, she seems to get along fine with Hazel Keech, who’s been assigned Jahannum along with her.
Rajat Rawail
Director-producer Rajat Rawail, a close friend of Salman’s, seems like the passive spectator type who’d rather maintain safe distance from conflict.
A man of considerable heft, he arrives in a ‘Six Pack Coming Soon’ tee shirt and is self-effacing about his weight as Salman proceeds to rib him about it.
Anita Advani
The most controversial name is saved for the last.
Rajesh Khanna’s longtime companion Anita Advani admits that she’s come to Bigg Boss to pick up the pieces of her life after Khanna’s demise and get her her life in order.