‘Bigg Boss 4’ comes to an end

With over-the-top cat fights, verbal abuse galore, much publicised wedding, romance, the season was bigger than ever.

NEW DEHLI: After raising far too many eyebrows along its 14-week run, “Bigg Boss 4” has ended with Shweta Tiwari becoming the first female contender to win the show.

With over-the-top cat fights, verbal abuse galore, a much publicised wedding, and romance, the season did live up to its promise of being bigger.

“Bigg Boss 4” started with 14 contestants, including Mumbai terror attack accused Mohammad Ajmal Kasab’s former lawyer Abbas Kazmi; thief-turned-detective Devinder Singh alias Superchor Bunty; actor Ashmit Patel; former dacoit Seema Parihar and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul Bhatt accused of scouting targets for Mumbai attack.

The show also invited Veena Malik and cross-dressing actor Ali Saleem aka Begum Nawazish Ali, along Indian TV actors, Shweta Tiwari and Sara Khan, Sakshi Pradhan and model Aanchal Kumar. Others who participated in the competition of survival in a secluded house without any communication with the outside world, were Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari, model-turned-actor Sameer Soni and model Hrishant Goswami, later joined by WWE wrestler, The Great Khali and subsequently by the boisterous Dolly Bindra.

Hollywood bombshell Pamela Anderson was flown in to heighten mercury levels as a special guest for three days on the already heated show.

The latest season courted its fair share of controversy and conspiracy- starting with Superchor Bunty’s ouster following his unruly behaviour in the house on day 1. Followed closely by objections from Indian political parties Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena against the inclusion of Pakistani celebrities on the show.

The entry of The Great Khali, of humungous size (7’1) and heavy voice, sent jitters down the spine of other contestants. The atmosphere in the “Bigg Boss 4” house was relatively calm and friendly until the arrival of the wildcard - Dolly Bindra. Not only did her loud, overbearing nature destroy the atmosphere; fights and melodrama became a way of life at the house. Dolly and Shweta began to settle personal scores violently and publically. As a consequence, others like Ashmit, Sameer, Khali, Veena, Sara and Manoj got involved too. In fact, Sameer and Dolly were asked to leave the show for their bad behaviour, only to return a few days later.

Where ill-will was flourishing between many, romance was in full bloom for others, such as Rahul-Aanchal’s silent chemistry, Veena’s one-sided attraction for Hrishant and Ashmit and Sara’s growing closeness there for the public to see.

The Ashmit-Sara angle didn’t last long as Sara’s long time beau Ali Merchant entered the show and proposed marriage to her. The two were set to say ‘kabool hai’ on national TV but even that was replete with controversy.

The show was in a mess as the Sara-Ali love story took an ugly twist when Sara’s family claimed that both Sara and Ali were already married, and a petition was filed in court against them for cheating the public.

At this point the information and broadcasting ministry stepped in. Colors recieved a notice for “offending good taste” by the use of vulgar language, which went to the extent of asking the producers to shift telecast time to 11 pm.

Veena meanwhile, changed loyalties and shifted focus to Ashmit, who willingly reciprocated. The two snuggled up under a blanket, kissed and hugged each other often to share sweet nothings, until Veena had to bid goodbye to the show.

After Sameer’s elimination in the 13th week, four candidates remained - the consistent Shweta, loud mouthed Dolly, confused and restless Ashmit and The Great Khali.

But it was Shweta who finally emerged the winner and walked away with the trophy and a cash prize of INRs 10 million at a befitting, star-studded finale.

The grand finale saw performances by Sara, Veena, Aanchal and Manoj. Salman too regaled the audience with his energetic performance.

Veena performed on “Shiela Ki Jawani” , said she had hoped to do a Bollywood item number.

All in all, a controversial - yet entertaining season of “Bigg Boss”.

Published in The Express Tribune, 11^th, 2011.