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Colors announces ‘Bigg Boss 16’ in all new avatar
Mumbai: Colors announced it is bringing back the latest season of Bigg Boss. Megastar Salman Khan is all set to return as the host of the reality show.
Produced by Endemol Shine India, Bigg Boss Season 16 with special partner Ching’s Schezwan Chutney, make-up partner MyGlamm, and tasting partner Priya Gold Hunk will premiere on 1 October at 9:30 p.m. on Colors & Voot.
For this game-changing season of Bigg Boss, the channel has devised a 360-degree extensive marketing and digital strategy spread across television, outdoor, print, digital, and cinema.
With the tagline of the season, “Game Badlega Kyunki Ab Bigg Boss Khud Khelega,” four unique promos will be aired on network and non-network television channels in Hindi and in regional genres. The show will also be promoted in the soon to be released movie, “Vikram Vedha,” across multiplex cinema theatres in Mumbai and Delhi.
Moreover, key junctions in Mumbai and Delhi will host large impact billboards. On the digital front, a stylized behind-the-scenes of the promo shoot featuring megastar and host Salman Khan was captured and released to excite the viewers. In an exclusive segment, digital creator RJ Karishma is set to unveil the most anticipated ‘Bigg Boss House.’
Additionally, for the first time ever, a fun interactive element has been added where the fans of the show will get a chance to ask questions to the contestants before they step into the house. To keep the buzz going, the ‘Bigg Boss emoji’ will be live on Twitter from the launch week along with an Instagram filter with this year’s contestants, which will be created post-launch.
Speaking about the launch of the biggest reality show on the network, Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “Bigg Boss is one of India’s most celebrated reality shows and enjoys exceptional fandom. A spectacular marvel from our plethora of diverse content, this most anticipated show brings a massive dose of entertainment to our viewers. Extending engagement across all platforms, the show offers a great canvas for advertisers to connect with their target audience. After the grand success of Khatron Ke Khiladi, we aim to keep the entertainment quotient high with an unprecedented season of Bigg Boss.”
She further added, “We are delighted to welcome onboard our special partners Ching’s Schezwan Chutney, make-up partner MyGlamm, and taste partner Priya Gold Hunk. We look forward to adding another outstanding season with associate partners Garnier Men and Hershey’s Kisses. With this exciting new theme, we are certain that this unpredictable season will keep the viewers enthralled.”
Satiating the curiosity around everything that happens inside the house, Bigg Boss 16 will continue to have a 24-hour live feed every Monday to Thursday only on Voot.
Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma said, “15 years back, Bigg Boss revolutionised the world of entertainment by introducing Indian households to captive reality. Since then, this show has empowered us to experiment, grow, innovate, and unlock an entirely new level of entertainment. With the theme “Game Badlega, Kyunki Kb Bigg Boss Khelega,” the idea is to bring a twist to the most loved and authoritative character on the show. We’ve seen Bigg Boss in many avatars over the years, and for the first time, he will be seen playing the game. This season, we have an eclectic mix of celebrity contestants from different walks of life. The viewers already love some of them, and they’ll get to know the rest of them very soon. We are elated to have Salman Khan bring his star power and a sense of justice to the show once again.”
Host, Salman Khan commented, “Coming back to Bigg Boss as a host every year feels like a tradition and I look forward to it. The immense love from the audience, the exciting mix of contestants, and the innovative themes undoubtedly make the journey truly special. The sixteenth season is set to be even more exciting with the theme, “Game Badlega, Kyunki Ab Bigg Boss Khud Khelega” and will bring a pandora of whole new twists. My best wishes to all the contestants, who will take on the challenge of competing with Bigg Boss.“
“The Bigg Boss of reality shows is back with the 16th season. Our endeavour at Endemol Shine India has been to consistently evolve, reinvent, and revolutionise the format of the show and up the game, season by season. This year, we will reveal a never-seen-before facet of the show with the mastermind of the house, Bigg Boss, not playing by the rules. The diverse mix of contestants will enhance the entertainment flavour as they compete against each other while courting the favour of their fellow contestants and audience. We look forward to a great season with the one-and-only Dabangg-host Salman Khan.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
