A few months after the successful run of the Bigg Boss format in Telugu and Tamil, the show has now made its foray into Colors Marathi as a Marathi show. Kamal Haasan helmed Bigg Boss Tamil, Jr NTR steers Bigg Boss Telugu, Sudeep is the host of Bigg Boss Kannada and Mithun Chakraborty was at the forefront of the Bengali show. Filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar is filling the shoes of Salman Khan for the Marathi version, as the presenter.
Conceived with Marathi sensibilities in mind, the show premiered on 15 April. In its launch episode, Manjrekar introduced the contestants to the viewers. A mix of players from different backgrounds like Bollywood, Hindi TV series and Marathi cinema makes up the bevy of participants. He is visible to the contestants only through 'Majhya Baacha TV' set in the Meeting or Baithak room.
While quite a few of them are already out of the game, here’s what you need to know about this year’s aspirants to the grand title. Who’ll win? Wait and watch.
Resham Tipnis
Remember Shilpa Shetty’s friend from Baazigar? The one who’s the key witness in the film? That would be Resham Tipnis. She has appeared in TV series like Satrangi Sasural, Karishma – The Miracles of Destiny and others.
Vineet Bhonde
The vertically challenged participant is a prominent comedian who is well-known for his outing in the talk show on the lines of Comedy Nights With Kapil - Chala Hawa Yeu Dya.
Aastad Kale & Jui Gadkari
The duo has dazzled Marathi viewers with their on-screen chemistry in the Marathi daily soap Pudhcha Paul. Known to spar often off-screen, the enigma around their possible antagonism is likely to be a talking point.
Anil Thatte
The makers can rely on Thatte to bring that eccentric quotient to the show. The OTT dresser once upon a time ran a Marathi tabloid called Gaganbhedi. Now a self-proclaimed ‘Guru’, he conducts some stage shows.
Smita Gondkar
After her debut role in Mumbaicha Dabewala, this avid biker has worked in films like Mr and Mrs Unwanted, Main Hoon Rajinikanth, Gadbad Gondhal. Having made it to the semi-final round of MTV Stunt Mania in 2009, trust Gondkar to unleash her badass streak on the show.
Aarti Solanki
Having appeared in films like Ugly and Vaajlaach Paahije: Game Ki Shinema, she comes to the Bigg Boss house armed with comic chops.
Bhushan Kadu
Kadu has appeared on TV shows like Mast Challay Aamcha, Navra Maza Bhavra, Ek Daav Bhatacha, Target, and Shyamchi Mummy.
Usha Nadkarni
Most popular for her role of Savita Deshmukh in the popular show Pavitra Rishta, for which she was nominated in Zee Rishtey Awards as 'Best Evil Mother-In-Law', Usha Nadkarni is a veteran Bollywood and Marathi cinema actor.
Megha Dhade
Best known for her role in DD National's daily soap Pehchaan, Megha Dhade has appeared in a number of K serials.
Sai Lokur
She made her debut opposite Kapil Sharma in the film, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. Lokur has also appeared in Marathi films. She appeared as Fardeen Khan's sister in 2012 film Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein.
Pushkar Jog
The winner of Nach Baliye Marathi in 2010, Pushkar Jog kickstarted his career as child artiste in films like Hum Dono, Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai and Aazmaish.
Rutuja Dharmadhikari
Dharmadhikari’s claim to fame is the Marathi horror show, Ratris Khel Chale.
Sushant Shelar
Best known for his role in the 2013 hit Duniyadari, Sushant Shelar even mouthed a dialogue on the show in his inimitable style, “Sasti cheezo ka shauk hum bhi nahi rakhte Bigg Boss.”
Rajesh Shringarpure
The Marathi actor appeared in a negative role in Sarkar Raj. Daddy, Murder 3, Shortcut Romeo are his other trump cards.
The show is aired Monday to Saturday at 9:30 pm on Colors TV while the Sunday episode is telecast at 9 pm.
(This article is from The Quint’s archives and was first published on 16 April 2018.)
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