The year reality TV swapped commoners for high-profile celebrities
In short: In 2019, India's most-watched reality show pivoted its entire formula. By removing the 'commoner' element and casting exclusively with established celebrities, Bigg Boss 13 transformed into a high-stakes laboratory of fame, resulting in one of the series' most successful and highest-rated seasons to date.
The thirteenth season of Bigg Boss (Hindi), subtitled "Bigg Boss Tedha," premiered on September 29, 2019. A significant structural shift occurred this year: show makers officially declared that the house would feature only celebrity contestants, eliminating the traditional inclusion of commoners. This move aimed to heighten the profile of the drama, featuring a diverse roster including actors like Sidharth Shukla and Rashami Desai, singers like Abu Malik, and even political analysts like Tehseen Poonawalla.
The production design reflected this premium shift. The house in Goregaon was themed as a "Bigg Boss Museum," and the visual branding featured a red eye logo with fire flares and a sky-blue pupil. Throughout the season, the show introduced complex mechanics to maintain engagement, such as the "BB Elite Club" in Week 16, which granted members special privileges and powers to avoid nomination for a week before the finale.
The season was defined by high-intensity twists and legal hurdles. Early on, a BFF (Best Friends Forever) bed-partner concept was introduced but canceled by Day 10 due to legal issues. Other notable mechanics included physical wrestling matches during "Weekend Ka Vaar" segments—which concluded after Week 8—and a unique Week 18 event where housemates' personal connections were allowed to enter the house.
Sidharth Shukla secured first place while Asim Riaz finished second when the competition ended on 16 February, 2020. With weekly ratings staying between 2.1 and 2.5 TRP, the programme became a legendary commercial hit for Indian TV.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) season 13
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