Bigg Boss (Hindi season 5)

Opening

Housemates status

Housemates

Original entrants

• Shakti Kapoor – Veteran Bollywood actor. He is known for his roles in many films like Dil Se Mile Dil, Jaani Dushman, Qurbani, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, Chup Chup Ke and De Dana Dan. He also participated in dance reality show Nach Baliye with wife Shivangi Kolhapure.
• Pooja Bedi – Television personality and newspaper columnist. She is the daughter of actor Kabir Bedi who is known for her role in the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. She later participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, ' and Nach Baliye.
• Shonali Nagrani – Actress and model. She won the pageant of Miss India International in 2003 and subsequently finished first runner-up of Miss International. Alongside appearances as a model and as a television anchor most notably for the Indian Premier League shows for Sony TV India and ITV, she has appeared in supporting roles in films like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Dil Bole Hadippa.
• Nihita Biswas – Charles Sobhraj's wife.
• Shraddha Sharma – TV actress and Raja Chaudhary's ex-girlfriend.
• Mandeep Bevli – News anchor. She was an anchor with Headlines Today, specializing mostly in entertainment related news.
• Raageshwari Loomba – Singer. She shot to fame with her portrayal of a naughty Sardaji on BPL Oye. She has released many successful music albums and performed at numerous stage shows all over the world. From 2000-2001 she was diagnosed with and overcame Bell's Palsy.
• Vida Samadzai – Former Miss Afghanistan. Her participation in the Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2003 was condemned by the Afghan Supreme Court, saying such a display of the female body goes against Islamic law and Afghan culture. In particular, traditionalists objected to her appearance in a red bikini during the pageant's press presentation. She was born and raised in a province of Afghanistan, and moved to America in 1996.
• Mahek Chahal – Bollywood actress. She is known for appearing in films like Chameli, Dil Apna Punjabi, Jai Veeru, Wanted, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna and Yamla Pagla Deewana.
• Sonika Kaliraman – Wrestler. She participated in the stunt reality show ' in 2009.
• Pooja Misrra – Reality TV alumni. She has previously participated in the reality show The Big Switch on UTV Bindass.
• Gulabo Sapera – Dancer. A well-known singer-dancer from Rajasthan, famous for folk style. Gulabo has a Jazz band with Titi Robin and teaches in Copenhagen, Denmark. She broke age-old traditions when took her culture on-stage at the age of 12, which was heavily promoted by the Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. She is married to Sohan Nath, whom she converted in to a Kalbelia and has five children.
• Laxmi Narayan Tripathi – LGBT rights activist. She holds the distinction of being the only Hijra in the UN's Civil Society Task Force on HIV/AIDS. She also works for the community through her campaign group 'Astitva'.
• Juhi Parmar – Television actress. She is well known for her role of Kumkum in the popular show Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan which aired on Star Plus. She later participated in the reality show Pati Patni Aur Woh with her husband Sachin Shroff.

  Wild card entrants

• Amar Upadhyay – Indian television actor. He is well known for his role of Mihir Virani in the popular Ekta Kapoor show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He was later seen in shows like Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Saathiya – Pyar Ka Naya Ehsaas and Kasautii Zindagii Kay.
• Siddharth Bhardwaj – Reality TV alumni. He participated and became the winner of MTV Splitsvilla with season 4 contestant Sakshi Pradhan.
• Akashdeep Saigal – Television actor. He played the negative lead as Ansh Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He then played the lead in Kuchh Is Tara. He participated in reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Fear Factor India and Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao.
• Sunny Leone – Actress and former porn star. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003 and was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment. Named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010, she has also played roles in independent mainstream films and television shows.

  Guest entrants

• Swami Agnivesh – social worker, Arya Samaj scholar, and a Hindu social activist. He is best known for his work against bonded labour through the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which he founded in 1981. Agnivesh also founded and become president of the World Council of Arya Samaj, which he describes as an associate of the original Arya Samaj, and served as the chairperson of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery from 2001 to 2004. He entered the house on Day 38 to Day 41.
• Andrew Symonds – Cricketer. Symonds is a right-handed middle order batsman and alternates between medium pace and off-spin bowling. Since mid-2008, he spent most of the time out of the team, due to disciplinary reasons, including alcohol. In June 2009 he was sent home from the 2009 World Twenty20, his third suspension, expulsion or exclusion from selection in the space of a year. His central contract was then withdrawn, and many cricket analysts have speculated that the Australian administrators will no longer tolerate him, and that Symonds may announce his retirement. He entered on Day 67 to Day 78.

  Guests appearances

• Yamamotoyama Ryūta

  Weekly synopsis

Guest appearances

Weekly tasks

Nominations table

• Shakti as captain was asked to appoint four names from the remaining housemates who would be Up for Nomination. As a result of being chosen Laxmi, Gulabo, Nihita and Pooja M. were exempt from nominating for this week, however, the remaining 9 housemates were allowed to cast their votes. Remaining housemates nominated Pooja M. and Nihita.
• Housemates nominated Pooja M., Gulabo and Mandeep however, according to the power given to Shakti as captain, he was able to save a nominated housemate from eviction. Shakti chose Mandeep.
• Pooja M. and Raageshwari were nominated by Bigg Boss as a punishment. Housemates were unable to cast their nominations against them. Mandeep as captain nominated Mahek directly placing her against public vote. Remaining housemates nominated Amar, Juhi and Shonali.
• Shonali was safe as captain, Housemates were unable to cast their nominations against her. Shonali nominated Mahek directly placing her against public vote. Remaining housemates nominated Shakti, Shraddha and Pooja B.
• Shonali was safe for another week as captain, Housemates were unable to cast their nominations against her. Shonali nominated Pooja M. directly placing her against public vote. Remaining housemates nominated Mahek, Mandeep and Amar
• Shraddha was safe as captain and Siddharth was immune from nominations because Mandeep took his name when Bigg Boss asked her to save one housemate from eviction on Week 6 while she was leaving the house. Housemates were unable to cast their nominations against them. Shraddha nominated Akashdeep directly placing him against public vote. Remaining housemates nominated Pooja M., Mahek and Laxmi.
• Akashdeep was safe as captain and Mahek was immune from nominations because Laxmi took her name when Bigg Boss asked her to save one housemate from eviction on Week 7 while she was leaving the house. Hence, they were immune from Nomination. Akashdeep, taking assistance from Siddharth nominated Shraddha, Pooja M., Vida and Shonali directly placing them against public vote.
• Amar was safe as captain and nominated Pooja B. directly placing her against public vote. Akashdeep was nominated for eviction by the Bigg Boss as a result of losing the weekly task. Sunny was exempt from nomination. Remaining housemates nominated Mahek and Siddharth.
• Mahek was made the captain after Pooja M. and, hence, was safe for nominations. She nominated Akashdeep directly placing him against public vote. Akashdeep, Siddharth and Amar were called in the confession room to decide two names to directly place against the public vote. The trio came up with Shraddha and Sunny.
• Instead of nominating two housemates to place against the public vote, Bigg Boss asked the housemates to give two names whom they would save from eviction. Housemates saved Akashdeep and Sunny. Contrary to the result, the remaining housemates were put up for eviction.
• Before leaving the Family/Friends of the housemates, who came for a short visit to meet their loved ones, were asked to nominate two names for eviction excluding Pooja M., Siddharth and Andrew. Hence, Amar and Shonali got nominated.
• Captain's post was abolished by the Bigg Boss as punishment. Housemates nominated Amar, Siddharth, Juhi and Sunny. Voting lines were closed for the week, however, housemates were unaware of this. Mahek returned to the house via "Wildcard Voting Contest".
• Housemates weren't asked to give names to nominate for eviction. Bigg Boss nominated all housemates to give each an equal chance to secure their position in the final week.
• During the final week the public voted for who they wanted to win Bigg Boss, the housemates with the fewest votes were evicted on Day 98 with the Winner revealed on the same night.

  Controversies

• On Day 12, Pooja Misrra showed a clear sense of fury by kicking a dustbin and breaking kitchen stuff grabbing a lot of public attention. The alienated Pooja Misrra lost her temper on Shonali Nagrani. When Shonali provoked her further, asking, if she would "hit" her, Pooja hinted, she could get physical, if Shonali didn't behave herself. "Get off my back," an irritated Pooja screamed in rage; her blood boiling with anger. What people saw in a trailer of the reality show, was a visibly furious Pooja, who has been cornered by most contestants on the show right from the beginning. All her attempts to make peace with the Housemates have more or less backfired, with them playing games and politics with the troubled soul. "Standing at crossroads with growing impatience, Pooja has been trying her best to keep her cool. But the scheming Housemates are not letting her live in harmony, assuming she is hogging mileage and footage," says public relations expert Dale Bhagwagar, who is a specialist with Bigg Boss hype and hoopla. "Unluckily, for all Housemates, the public has realized that Pooja is a there to provide most entertainment to the audiences in the house. Though the Housemates have been trying their best to ignore her, she has emerged an uncanny favourite with the cameras and the audiences alike," he adds. Pooja M. being saved in consecutive eviction by the audience has further proved how much popular she's got among the couple of weeks. Not to mention Bigg Boss audience have a history of liking the candidate who cause most controversies and disturbance in the house. The incident has also become a huge social media meme as well
• Siddharth Bhardwaj and Shonali Nagrani were seen romancing each other in the Bigg Boss 5 house. Episode aired on 26 October 2011 of Bigg Boss 5 caught Siddharth consoling and hugging Shonali and kissing her hand. Shonali, on her part seemed to reciprocate his affection. When celebrity publicist Dale Bhagwagar was asked if the two were doing it for publicity and to increase TRP, Dale said that all of the Bigg Boss 5 contestants are aware that they are wearing mics and are surrounded by cameras 24x7. Dale Bhagawar added, "They have all gone on the show with personal agendas and roles to portray. They have all gone on it to play and win." Media and the audiences also considered this to be a vague TRP stunt. Later on the show, when Shonali was confronted by other housemates about romancing to Siddharth, she defended herself by saying that she thought that Sid flirts with most of the female housemates and she was just playing along.
• During the show, Contestant Vida Samadzai accused Pooja Misrra of stealing her waist band. Misrra vehemently denied the accusation saying she had picked up the ornament by mistake thinking it to be hers. Misrra said she owned a similar one but Vida refused to believe her. The conversation turned into an ugly spat with house captain Shonali Nagrani called in to intervene. Vida, also, accused Misrra of calling her a Whore which she assumed after unclearly hearing Pooja M. say To the core. Sanjay Dutt, on the eviction night, warned Vida not to make such vague assumptions and hurl pointless accusations on others. After the incident Vida grew even more unpopular with the audience as media sidelined this issue boldly defending Pooja M. and calling her a victim of accusations inside the house.
• Pooja Misrra became the most discussed and debated inmate of Bigg Boss. With every week being nominated for eviction and getting saved by huge margin of votes, the viewers have utterly shown how much Pooja M. is being supported by them. When Pooja was reviewed by the media on her peculiar stance in the house and inside the hearts of the audience, the conclusion that she is most probably the biggest entertainer of the series came erupting as a definite answer. Audience found her comments and gestures during fights hilarious and determined. Her comments like "Rani Hijrawati" to Laxmi, "Mihir Virani Saas Bahu ka baap" to Amar, "Twinkle twinkle poetry" to Pooja B. and "Love me for this, for this, or for this" accompanied by hip postures became famous among viewers and the source of her fan following. During the first two weeks Pooja M. was considered to be a victim of accusations inside the house but with every passing week audiences seem to like Pooja M. for her distinct personality as well. Prior to the events inside the house involving Pooja M. being bullied by housemates, Pooja's retaliation towards these acts has compelled the audience to accept Pooja as their favorite housemate saving her in every eviction by a huge margin of votes. Audiences' support was also seen on Bigg Boss official website where followers "liked" Pooja's profile using their Facebook accounts making her the hottest housemate and, hence, making her win the poll.
• On Week 7's eviction night "Aapka Farmaan", Salman Khan strictly warned Siddharth for his shameful behavior with Mahek Chahal and Pooja Misrra. Salman Khan asked Siddharth to have control over his tongue and actions. Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt severely criticized Siddharth's foul language, character assassination and cheap actions behind Mahek and Pooja M. bringing him to tears. Even John Abraham asked Siddharth to take care of his behavior towards ladies inside the house. On hearing all these, Siddharth apologized and started crying on national television. Salman and Sanjay also questioned Akashdeep for not stopping Siddharth when he was displaying such disrespectful acts of manners.
• On Day 55, Pooja Misrra exhibited an act of violence in retaliation towards Siddharth Bhardwaj's continuous instigation and protests against her regarding her becoming the new captain. After Midnight before going to bed Siddharth provoked Pooja M. to the limit that she pushed him with a slight shove. Following this, Siddharth went on in front of the cameras appealing to the Bigg Boss to eject Pooja otherwise he'll walk out of the competition by climbing the walls of the house. As a result, Bigg Boss ejected Pooja M. the very instance. After the news spread about Pooja's expulsion from the house before the show even aired within hours an immediate uproar from the audience came into existence. What Siddharth thought was a harmful physical assault, audience on the other hand, analyzed it as a mere push. Media and channel reporters gave their verdict on Bigg Boss being bias towards Pooja M. and accusing the show of deliberately getting rid of Pooja M. due to crew's favoritism towards the male contestants of the show. The disappointed audience began posting hate comments against the reality show claiming that they want Pooja M. back in the house with Siddharth evicted in place of her, otherwise, they'll boycott the show and raise protests against it. Viewers perception of the incident was sheer unfair judgement by the Bigg Boss accompanying the fact that they earlier witnessed similar injustice towards Pooja Misrra when Akashdeep Saighal breaking the captain's lounge bathroom door while Pooja Misrra was inside, when Amar scratched Pooja M.'s hand and she needed medical aid along with the display of ill-manners by Siddharth when he almost kicked Pooja M. while he was hurling improper names to her parents. Former contestants of this season of the show have expressed relief. Afghan beauty Vida Samadzai, who got evicted last week, says, "It is great. I am very happy that Pooja is out of the house. It was about time this happened. She is a mean person and a big drama queen." Samadzai however adds, "I hope she learns a lesson from this and becomes a better human being." Singer Raageshwari Loomba, who left the house a month earlier, says, "Though I don't follow the show anymore, I know there have been negative attacks on her. Her behaviour in the house may be because of the unnatural setting of the show that drives a person to the edge. I only hope this helps her positively."
• Sunny Leone managed to created much hype with her Bigg Boss stint, but her presence in the show did not go down well with The Indian Artistes and Actors Forum, reports Headlines Today. IAAF requested I&B Minister Ambika Soni to take action against Colors for indirectly encouraging and promoting pornography in India via the introduction of an adult entertainer, as per the channel. According to a report published in a daily, Sunny Leone has become the most searched adult celebrity on web and it's becoming difficult to keep the children away from accessing her explicit videos and pictures. "As far as this particular complaint... I haven't heard about it... Of course these complaints come up from time to time over content issues of different channels across the television," Ambika Soni told Headlines Today. Apart from the accusations on her, Sunny became the most searched Indian celebrity on Google beating Bollywood sensations Katrina Kaif, Aishwariya Rai and Kareena Kapoor.
• Many evicted housemates which include Pooja Bedi, Shraddha Sharma, Raageshwari, Shakti kapoor, Pooja Misrra and Vida Samadzai accused Salman Khan for favoring housemate Mahek Chahal for being partial towards her. Their claims were later, rejected by the actor himself after Mahek got evicted on 11 December 2011, however, just two-week before the finale, Mahek was deliberately made win a wild card entry poll against Laxmi Narayan and Shonali Nagrani who clearly did not have as much of a fan following as her, merely fourteen days after her initial eviction, which indeed confirmed all the allegations against her being Salman Khan's favorite candidate. This stint not only disappointed fans of the inmates inside the house who have been surviving evictions for many week but also certified partial judgments made towards specific housemates by the Bigg Boss.
• Unlike the international versions of Big Brother, in Bigg Boss, the hosts are seen to be intimidating contestants on the show for their conduct and are often witnessed interfering in almost everything exhibiting a partial stance towards few. On the Opening of the season Salman and Sanjay ridiculed Shakti Kapoor after he entered the house saying, "Bigg Boss ko maanna padega! Shakti Kapoor jaise logon ko apne ghar bulaya, hum toh kabhi na bulayen!". Shakti was hurt by these remarks and demanded an apology from Salman, however, was never reached by either Khan or Dutt. Later, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt also lashed out at Siddharth Bhardwaj for being too unmannerly with Mahek Chahal and Pooja Misrra and the same continued with other housemates few weeks later when Salman Khan went inside the house on 17 December 2011 and severely scolded contestants for their behaviour. Such traits showed by the hosts have yet been never witnessed on any international series of Big Brother. On 24 December 2011, Sanjay Dutt displayed infurious attitude towards Juhi Parmar, Akashdeep Saigal and Sunny Leone for bringing out a problem that concerned them regarding Amar Upadhyay's indecent moves on female housemates. Evicted housemate Pooja Bedi after watching the episode, in fury, claimed,"It's clear Salman went in there to demoralise, confuse, hurt and lie to Sky. Any guesses as to why he would misuse his position to do so? Salman previously had threatened Sid, and said, he would kick his arse. Hosts cannot intimidate contestants! Wrong. if contestants are bad, they get nominated and if public dislikes them, they get eliminated. That's reality TV, not hosts threatening, if Salman can get aggressive with contestants, why is he upset they do so with each other?" The hosts are also seen to be very manipulative throughout the season. From altering the results to controlling appearances of celebrities, all was witnessed to be formatted by co-host Salman Khan. Due to the remarks made by Pooja Bedi on Salman's interference with the results and favoritism towards Mahek Chahal, Pooja was banned from attending the season finale to be held on 7 January 2012. The actress was humiliated on this last minute change and expressed, "So what if I disagree with a host and don't like a contestant! Is that reason for Channel not to have me at finale?" Pooja Bedi further stressed, "Have asked channel to state reason I cannot be there at finale to cheer my friends on! Also, till yesterday I was to do a medley! What changed?" Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan was also refused entry in the finale. Hrithik was supposed to promote his upcoming release Agneepath on the grand finale of the TV show. Sanjay Dutt, the main villain of the film, being a part of the show should have helped the marketing initiative. However, Salman has put his foot down. Khan has now asked Imran Khan to promote Karan Johar's next production Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu on the grand finale. Later, Pooja Misrra and Shakti Kapoor also fell targets. They also were banned from attending the finale because of speaking against Khan in the media. Pooja Misrra was later asked to attend the finale.