Season 2 of the reality show Bigg Boss went on air yesterday (17 Aug 08) on Colors. 14 participants were revealed and it was a sort of casting coup on the part of the channel. Unlike season 1 which was dominated by film, tv and fashion world celebrities this season has a mix of quite a few newsmakers including the host Shilpa Shetty. There’s a full time politician, a UK Big Brother participant who was in news for making racist comments against Shilpa, an ex film actress who has been the wife of an underworld don, a singer, a stand up comedian, son of a late politician, items girls and as usual people from the tv and fashion world.
Celebrity participants of Bigg Boss season 2 are:
Ketaki Dave
Ketaki Dave is a well known TV actress. She is very famous for portraying the character of Daksha in the soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and for her catch phrase Arrrr in that serial. This is not the first reality show for Ketaki. She was a participant in the celebrity dance show Nach Baliye (Season 2) along with her husband Rasik Dave.
It looks like she has been chosen to get the soap opera watching audience to watch the show. Their votes might take her a long way.
Zulfi Syed
Zulfi Syed is a model turned actor. He won the Gladrags Manhunt in 1997. He made his debut in Bollywood with the movie Pyasa. He is better known for the portrayal of emperor Shahjahan in the movie Taj Mahal.
I am not sure why Zulfi was selected. May be for his looks so that girls will vote to keep him in the house!
Rakhi Tandon
Rakhi is a TV actress. She shot to fame after plating the character of Sweeti in the comedy show Hum Paanch in the mid nineties. Rakhi is sister in law of the famous Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon.
Rakhi will definitely bring in some chutzpah in the Bigg Boss’s house. It remains to be seen how far she can go.
Rahul Mahajan
A big catch! Rahul is the son of late Pramod Mahajan a prominent politician and a one time Information and Broadcasting minister in the government of India. Rahul has been in the news ever since his father was shot dead in his home by his(Rahul’s) uncle Pravin Mahajan. Rahul has been in the news for taking drugs, his entry in politics, for his marriage and subsequent divorce.
Rahul seems pretty good in networking and making friends. He was giving a guided tour of the house to every participant as he/she entered the house. I feel his knack of making friends will take him a long way in the Bigg Boss’s house.
Monica Bedi
Casting coup really! Monika Bedi in her short lived career in Bollywood and at her young age has been though a lot. She has been in news for her affiliation with underworld don Abu Salem. She was arrested along with him in the year 2002 and spent a lot of years in jails. She has been acquitted in a few cases against her but a few are still pending.
It will be chance for Monica to make a comeback in the industry but I am not sure if she will be able to survive for long in the Bigg Boss house. Some people might pity her and vote to keep her in the house but it will be interesting to see how other participants treat her.
Raja Chaudhari
Raja is a TV actor. Better known as the ex husband of prominent TV actress Shweta Tiwari. Raja shot to fame after participating in the celebrity couple dance show Nach Baliye with his wife. Sweta’s success and Raja’s failure to keep up with her professionally eventually lead to their separation. Shweta is so much more popular than Raja that when you search for images of Raja on Google, you come across images of Shweta!
Bigg Boss will give Raja an opportunity to make a comeback in the TV industry and will also earn him some good money which he is definitely in need of! But the chances of him winning the game are slim. For one he is very hot tempered. I just hope he doesn’t fight with anybody in the house!
Sambhavna Seth
Sambhavna is the quintessential item girl in the Bigg Boss’s house. She brings the oomph and aahs in the house. Last season of Bigg Boss gained a lot of eyeballs by the inclusion of Rakhi Sawant, so this time they have two got hot girls in the house.
Ehsan Qureshi
Ehsan Qureshi is a standup comedian and shot to fame by appearing in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge season 1. He is known for his distinctive poetic style of joke telling. His inclusion will definitely bring some light moments in the house and will make the show enjoyable for the viewers.
Ehsan is a good comedian but I doubt he will be able to go a long way in the game.
Payal Rohatgi
Another item girl. A bold actress known more for her hot photo shoots than her acting skills. She has worked in a few bollywood movies till date like Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?, 36 China Town, Dhol, Heyy Babyy, Ugly Aur Pagli etc.
Payal along with Sambhavna will bring the much needed TRPs for the show. She might just make it to last 5 contestants on the show.
Debojit Saha
Debojit is a singer. He is the winner of Zee TV’s singing talent reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005. Debojit might prove to be popular with the audience and might just make it to the final 5.
Ashutosh Kaushik
Ashutosh is the winner of MTV Roadies season 5. He might not be well known to most of the Indian TV watching audiences but he might just click with the youth. He was the underdog in the Roadies and yet emerged the winner, his cool, straight talking attitude might also work this time and may even make him the winner again. Watch out for this guy!
Elina Wadia
Elina is not a celebrity. She may be an upcoming model or a struggling actress, but an appearance on Bigg Boss will definitely make her a celebrity by the time she leaves.
Sanjay Nirupam
Sanjay Nirupam is a full time politician from Mumbai. I was really surprised to see him on the show. I am not sure how the channel managed to cast him. How can a politician spends three months in the house without any contact, phones, TV, newspapers doing all his chores himself will be an interesting thing to watch. But I feel he won’t survive in the house for long. His presence will the atmosphere a little heavy for other participants and even Mr Nirupam will find it a little awkward.
Jade Goody
A big big casting coup! Jade Goody is a British reality television celebrity and businesswoman. She was at the center of allegations of bullying, racist and elitist comments against fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother’s house in the UK. This is the third time that Jade is participating in this game. She has appeared twice in the Big Brother in UK earlier.
This season of Bigg Boss promises to be a complete masala entertainment for the viewers. Like a typical Bollywood masala movie, we have got actors, actresses, politicians, comedian, singer, and even item girls. My favorites to win the show – Jade Goody, Rahul Mahajan, Payal Rohatagi, Debojit Saha and Ashutosh Kaushik.
