Bigg Boss 20 Premiere LIVE Updates: Salman Khan is back as host as the latest season of the reality show premieres tonight, 6 September, with a new set of contestants and a major twist around Tathastu and the promised Extra Jeevan Daan. Follow all the latest updates from the premiere here.
The wait is almost over. Bigg Boss 20 is set to open its doors tonight, with Salman Khan returning to host the Hindi edition of the reality show.
The premiere is scheduled for 9 pm on JioHotstar and will air on Colors TV at 10.30 pm.
This season has already generated considerable buzz around its contestants, the show's new house and, most importantly, the mysterious Tathastu twist.
Bigg Boss 20 Premiere LIVE: What time does the show start?
Bigg Boss 20 premieres on 6 September 2026.
JioHotstar: 9 pm
Colors TV: 10.30 pm
Salman Khan will introduce the contestants during the premiere, with the show's format and season-long twists also expected to become clearer during the opening episode.
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Bigg Boss 20 Contestants: Who Are They and Why Are They in the News?
With Bigg Boss 20 premiering tonight, 6 September, several familiar names from television, films, music, sport and the digital world are expected to enter Salman Khan's reality show. While the makers have officially confirmed some contestants through promos, the complete lineup has been reported differently by various publications. Here is what is currently known about the names being linked to the season.
Mahhi Vij is a familiar face in Hindi television, best known for shows including Laagi Tujhse Lagan. She has also been in the news this year following her separation from actor Jay Bhanushali after 14 years of marriage. The couple announced their decision publicly and said they would continue to support each other and co-parent their children. Vij's reported Bigg Boss 20 entry therefore comes at a time when there is already considerable public interest in both her professional and personal life.
Amrapali Dubey is one of the most recognisable names in Bhojpuri cinema. She has appeared in numerous Bhojpuri films and is particularly known for her work with actor-singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua. Her reported entry into Bigg Boss 20 brings an established regional film star into the Hindi television reality-show space.
Rhiti Tiwari, daughter of actor, singer and politician Manoj Tiwari, is the first contestant from the reported lineup to have been officially confirmed by the makers through a promo. Rhiti is also a singer and has largely stayed away from the kind of mainstream television spotlight enjoyed by her father. In the promo, Salman Khan jokes about her father’s memorable Bigg Boss 4 argument over eggs before welcoming her to the new season.
Aman Gandhi is a television actor known for his work in shows including Naagin 3 and Bhagyalakshmi. He has been included in multiple reports about the Bigg Boss 20 lineup. His reported move from scripted television to reality television could give viewers a chance to see him outside the characters he has played on screen.
Uditi Singh is an actor and model whose name has appeared in multiple reports about Bigg Boss 20. She has a comparatively less established mainstream television profile than several other names linked to the season, making the reported entry an opportunity to reach a much wider audience. Current reports list her among the expected contestants, but the final on-air introduction remains the definitive confirmation.
Qazi Touqeer became known to television audiences after winning the musical reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. More than two decades after his breakthrough on a reality-TV singing competition, his reported return to the format has generated interest among viewers familiar with the earlier generation of Indian television talent shows.
Mary Kom is perhaps the most prominent sporting name associated with Bigg Boss 20. The Olympic bronze medallist and multiple-time world champion boxer has one of India's most distinguished sporting careers. Her reported move into reality television is notable because it takes the celebrated athlete into a completely different kind of public environment. Current reports include her among the season's expected contestants.
Arishfa Khan is an actor and digital creator who began working in television at a young age and later built a substantial social-media following. She represents the digital-first side of this year's reported cast, alongside personalities from television, films and reality television. Her reported participation has been mentioned by several outlets ahead of the premiere.
Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu, comes into the reported Bigg Boss lineup with recent reality-TV experience. He won MTV Roadies: Double Cross, making his reported move to Bigg Boss his second major reality-show appearance in quick succession. That experience could make him one of the contestants particularly familiar with the pressures and competitive nature of unscripted television.
Isha Rikhi is a Punjabi actor and model who has also appeared in Hindi projects. Her name has received particular attention in the run-up to Bigg Boss 20 because of her recent separation from rapper Badshah. The couple publicly announced their separation this month, and Rikhi subsequently addressed speculation surrounding their relationship, asking people not to rely on rumours. Her reported association with Bigg Boss has therefore attracted interest alongside her professional work.
Aasif Khan is an actor known for work across films and streaming projects, including Panchayat, Mirzapur and Paatal Lok. Unlike contestants who have built their careers primarily through reality television, Khan comes from a scripted acting background. His reported participation would give viewers an opportunity to see him outside the characters associated with his screen work.
Rohed Khan is an actor and model who has worked in Indian films, with credits reported to include Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Tejas and Sarzameen. His name has appeared in several reports about the Bigg Boss 20 lineup, although the broader contestant list has not been uniformly reported across publications.
Faissal Khan is another name appearing in reports about the season's lineup. However, because current reports do not provide sufficiently consistent information about his background for a detailed profile, it is safer to keep his introduction limited until his participation and identity are established on the show. He has been included in the reported contestant lists ahead of the premiere.
Kanika Mann is a familiar face on Hindi television, best known for shows including Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega and her work in the Naagin franchise. She has a substantial television following and has been among the more consistently reported names in the Bigg Boss 20 lineup. Her reported transition from scripted television to the unscripted format is one of the casting developments that has attracted attention ahead of the premiere.
Yung DSA is a rapper and digital personality associated with India's independent music and creator scene. His name has emerged repeatedly in reports about Bigg Boss 20, with earlier reports claiming that he had signed a contract for the season. His reported inclusion would add a hip-hop voice to a cast otherwise made up largely of television, film, sports and reality-TV personalities.
Khushi Dubey is an actor associated with Hindi television and has been linked to Bigg Boss 20 in reports ahead of the premiere. Her name has also appeared in promotional coverage around the season. However, there have been reports questioning whether she will ultimately enter the house, making it more appropriate to describe her as a reported contestant until the premiere confirms her status.
Rhiya Ahir became known to a wider online audience after a video connected to a protest in Mumbai circulated on social media. She subsequently became part of the Bigg Boss 20 conversation through Fans Ka Faisla, the audience-voting mechanism in which she competed with Love Gill for a place on the show. Because reports differ in their description of the circumstances surrounding the viral video, it is better not to attach an interpretation to the incident beyond what has been independently reported.
Love Gill, also known as Lovepreet Kaur Gill, is a Punjabi actor and model who has appeared in music videos and Punjabi entertainment projects. She has been in the news ahead of Bigg Boss 20 because of Fans Ka Faisla, through which she was competing with Rhiya Ahir for a place in the house. The audience-voting element makes her reported entry different from that of the show's other celebrity contestants.
The final on-screen introductions during tonight's premiere will settle any remaining discrepancies in the reported list.
Fans Ka Faisla: Riya Ahir or Love Gill?
Another unusual element ahead of the premiere was Fans Ka Faisla, through which Riya Ahir and Love Gill competed for a place in the Bigg Boss house.
The audience was given a role in deciding who would get the spot. Reports said the winner would also receive the Vardaan of Extra Jeevan Daan.
The final outcome is expected to be addressed during the premiere.
ALSO READ: Bigg Boss in India: A Complete Guide to Every Language Edition, Host, Season and Where to Watch
What is the Tathastu twist in Bigg Boss 20?
One of the biggest talking points this season is Tathastu, teased in the show's promos as “Tathas-two”.
The season also comes with an Extra Jeevan Daan, giving contestants an additional chance in the game. Salman Khan revealed the twist in the promotional campaign, although the exact mechanics and when contestants can use the advantage were initially kept under wraps.
The show's theme also revolves around ideas including Vardaan, the House of Illusion and Duality, with the new twists expected to influence how contestants navigate the game.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
When is Bigg Boss 20 premiering?
Bigg Boss 20 premieres on 6 September 2026.
What time does Bigg Boss 20 start?
The premiere begins at 9 pm on JioHotstar and airs on Colors TV at 10.30 pm.
Who is hosting Bigg Boss 20?
Salman Khan returns as the host of the Hindi edition.
What is the Tathastu twist?
The season has teased “Tathas-two” alongside the Extra Jeevan Daan, an additional lifeline for contestants. The show's promos have kept the precise mechanics under wraps.
Who are the Bigg Boss 20 contestants?
Reports currently point to an 18-member lineup featuring names including Mahhi Vij, Amrapali Dubey, Mary Kom, Kanika Mann, Qazi Touqeer, Kushal Tanwar aka Gullu and others. The official on-screen introductions will confirm the final lineup.
Bigg Boss 20: What to expect from the premiere
The opening episode is expected to establish the contestants, the new house and the season's central twists.
The new house has been designed around the season's duality theme, with reports highlighting features including a redesigned layout, a Room 20 and a large pool area.
The bigger question, however, is how the show's Extra Jeevan Daan and Tathastu elements will actually work once the contestants enter the game.
With Salman Khan back at the helm, the Bigg Boss 20 premiere is set to introduce viewers to a season that promises to put a fresh spin on the familiar format.
