Shiv Thakare and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary are the first and second runners-up
Survival in the house of COLORS’ ‘Bigg Boss’ is no ordinary feat! Hosted by Dabangg host Salman Khan and a few episodes by Karan Johar and Farah Khan, the 16th edition of the show powered by Tresemme, Special Partner Ching’s Dragonfire Chutney, Make-up Partner Myglamm & Taste Partner Priyagold Hunk has come to an end. This season was different in a true sense as ‘Bigg Boss’ played his own game, honed from 15 years of experience. Garnering record-breaking viewership, this season of India’s favourite reality show reached out to 169 million individuals and garnered 121 billion viewing minutes, making it the boss of shows in the non-fiction category. This ground-breaking season has also left a lasting impact on social media, with a reach of 15 billion, 9 billion views, 200 million conversations, and a 98% share of voice. For four months the contestants spared no effort to earn ‘ticket to finale’ and gather support from millions of fans across the country. After an arduous and entertainment-filled journey, the Dabangg host of the show Salman Khan handed the winner’s trophy to MC Stan, who earned the prize money of Rs. 31, 80, 000/- and a Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS. Shiv Thakare and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary were the finalists who gave the winner a tough fight.
MC Stan is applauded as the only contestant who appeared real throughout the season. His lingo has caught on with viewers and sparked a huge fest of memes on social media. Way before his victory, MC Stan was credited with putting the community of underground rappers on the Indian map through his stellar presence in this season. Every housemate of the season was in awe of the remarkable fan army he commanded. His commentary and observation of the housemates in his signature style were satirical and hilarious. The rapper chose the right muddas, apologised when he was on the wrong side of a fight, and gave as good as he got in a spat. His solid friendship with Shiv Thakare was admired by viewers and both were rooting for each other’s victory till the end of the season.
Talking about his victory, MC Stan said, “I have my ardent fans to thank for this incredible and unbelievable victory. When I entered the house, I felt like a misfit because I didn’t know how the game worked and everyone else seemed to know what they were doing. I understood the game late, but no regrets because that would not have made any difference to the way I would have conducted myself on the show. I had to unlearn many things and wage a war against my impulses. I’ve learnt the biggest life lessons here and made solid relationships with people from different walks of life. What everyone called mandali became my home away from home. I’m so proud to be part of a season that delivered on the promise of non-stop entertainment. Haq hai.”
Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “At COLORS, we are committed to reinventing and innovating content and Bigg Boss’s success is a testament to the same. The season raised the bar with not just an exceptional contestant line-up but also with brand innovation and engagement. This edition witnessed distinct milestones based on viewership and social media trends. A big credit goes to the loyal fanbase the show has earned over the years and our drive to deliver non-stop entertainment. Congratulations to (insert name), for taking home this season’s trophy and winning millions of hearts.”
Shital Iyer, Non-Fiction Head, COLORS added, “The 16th edition of Bigg Boss brought an entirely new brand of entertainment with the ‘Master of the House’ playing the game. This season witnessed a bigger and more novel fandom with unexpected twists and turns being introduced to keep the housemates alert and the viewers on the edge of their seats. This game-changing edition has established a remarkable benchmark and set the tone for the next season. Congratulations to (insert name) for winning this season and to all the contestants who won the hearts of viewers.”
Rishi Negi, CEO, Endemol Shine India, said, “After an eventful and entertainment-packed season, I want to congratulate all the contestants for making it a huge success! It proved why India’s most loved television phenomenon is the Bigg Boss of all reality shows. Congratulations to (insert name) for shining through the season and winning it with all they’ve got. We at Endemol Shine India are delighted to have closed the curtain on a momentous season that has commanded an incredible fandom.”
For the conclusion of this game-changing season, megastar Salman Khan was joined by stars of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues, Sunny Deol and Amisha Patel. The finale night was high on glamour and entertainment as all the ex-contestants of this season performed with all their heart and sent their best wishes to the finalists. Bharti Singh and Krushna Abhishek, who hosts ‘Bigg Buzz’ entered the house and regaled the finalists and ex-contestants with their superb comic timing. The stars of COLORS’ upcoming show ‘Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal’ including Karan Kundrra, Gashmeer Mahajani and Reem Sameer Shaikh enticed the viewers with glimpses of their romance-fantasy-drama. Soon after, Ankit Gupta, Gautam Singh Vig and Neha Rana joined Salman Khan to spread the word about their forthcoming music-drama COLORS’ ‘Junooniyatt’. One of the most adorable ex-contestants of the show, Abdu Rozik unveiled ‘You Very Chaalaak Bro’, a song inspired by his catchphrase popularised during his stint on the show. Amping up anticipation for his next big-ticket film, host Salman Khan launched his song ‘Naiyo Lagda’ from his upcoming movie ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ during the finale.
SOURCE:
BARC, TG: 2+, All India, 1st Oct 2022 – 3rd Feb 2023, COLORS SD+HD, Original + Repeat