GECs
Top brands sponsor aam aadmi Bigg Boss’s ‘kahani mein twist’
MUMBAI: Reputed brands booked their aam aadmi’s Bigg Boss slots well in advance. parle agro appy fizz, Oppo, Maruti Suzuki Swift, UC Browser, Clean and Dry, and Garnier Men Face Wash have hopped on to the bandwagon.
Till season nine, the audience watched their loved celebrities crying, fighting and dancing in Bigg Boss’s house. One of the most controversial and loved reality shows is all set to hit the television screens from 16 October. The show will be aired at 10.30 Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.
For the first time, Bigg Boss has opened doors to the common man. The all-seeing all-knowing authoritarian figure of Bigg Boss who monitors the house mates’ every move, this time is all set to amuse and entertain people from two very different universes.
On one hand you have the very unassuming ‘common man’, on the other hand, the heady ‘celebrity’ brigade all set to experience 100-plus days under one roof. Superstar Salman Khan will return to manoeuvre this unpredictable and tumultuous journey.
About the launch, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “The common man rules the world. Their choices decide the fate of the nations. Their decisions influence the fate of our shows. It’s time we welcomed them on their favourite show and gave them an experience of a lifetime. Bigg Boss this season will be a like a brand new game altogether. We will see two strikingly contrasting worlds come side by side. While the celebrities will be image conscious, the common man contestants will be uninhibited in their approach. We are excited to tap these unharnessed energies to see what unearths. The meticulous auditions threw up a gamut of people from different walks of life. From a World Bank executive to a stand-up comedian who is also an LGBT activist, from a bus conductor to a security guard, from a self-made millionaire, to people from the UK, the US, Canada, the UAE and the neighbouring countries. After multiple rounds of auditions, we have zeroed in on some unique common man contestants who, when locked away with the choicest celebrities, will raise the bar on entertainment under the watchful eye of our superstar host, Salman Khan.”
The channels has roped in parle agro appy fizz as presenting sponsor and Oppo Camera phone as ‘powered by’ sponsor, for Bigg Boss. Colors has also roped in Maruti Suzuki Swift as driven by sponsor, UC Browser as trending partner, and Clean and Dry and Garnier Men Face Wash as associate sponsors. The channel has also roped in CP Plus and Ossum Perfumed Body Mist as associate sponsors for its HD Feed.
Nayak further added, “Amongst the many firsts, this is also the first time when we have sold-out all our sponsorship slots well in advance.”
Parle Agro joint managing director and CMO Nadia Chauhan said, “parle agro appy fizz is known for its bold, edgy and confident attitude. Bigg Boss echoes this brand persona and its immense popularity amongst the youth coupled with its unique format allowing innovative integration, makes it a perfect platform for strengthening the connect between parle agro appy fizz and its target audience.”
Oppo India brand director Will Yang said, “Television is one of the most important platforms for Oppo in India to connect with the audience as it has a wide reach amongst the Indian consumers, not just the metro but also expanding to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”
Back for the seventh season in a row, superstar host Salman Khan said, “This is my seventh season as host of Bigg Boss. Each season is exceptional in its own way. But, with known faces, you know or at least think you know what to expect. Each time the show has surprises galore. But this time, there is a ‘kahani mein twist’. The presence of the common man promises a most uncommon season. So expect the unexpected.”
Revealing some intricate details about Bigg Boss, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “We have conducted auditions in every nook and cranny of the country for this edition of Bigg Boss. Be it entries online, in-person or through mail, we have given the common man every opportunity to make their mark on the show. And the response has been phenomenal! After months of deliberation, we have our final roster of contestants who will become the next entertainment sensations. With no preconceived notions and qualms, the common man contestants will remain uninhibited in their approach, thereby challenging the sensibilities of celebrity contestants whose conduct might be more controlled. So anticipate twists with every turn in this edition of Bigg Boss.”
As the chosen formidable common man contestants prepare to create history as they step foot inside the Bigg Boss house to nudge and coax the celebrities, the next 100+ days of their lives will be peppered with unadulterated and uninhibited entertainment.
Commenting on the format of the show, Endemol Shine India managing director and CEO Deepak Dhar said, “Bigg Boss this season is going to be explosive by all means! A set of common people who so far have just been viewers of the show are about to experience a life dictated by Bigg Boss for over three months and will emerge as stars by the end of it all. We have gone above and beyond everything that we have explored over the past seasons to make tweaks in the format such that both – the common man contestants and celebrities have a truly unpredictable journey. The varied contestant mix will add value to the franchise and amplify the entertainment avenues unlike ever before.”
To promote Bigg Boss across various platforms including OOH, radio integrations including a special tie-up with Radio Mirchi in Gujarat for Navratri, association with Durga Puja pandals, and vada pav and tea stalls in Mumbai, an initiative to revamp the Bigg Boss Whopper at Burger King outlets, and unique Bigg Boss branded cab roadshows in New Delhi and Mumbai.
On the digital front, Colors has collaborated with popular stand-up comedian and co-founder of SnG Comedy, Varun Thakur to create videos that build intrigue and drive conversations around Bigg Boss. Through his specially curated avatar ‘Vicky’, he will be seen giving tips to the general public on how to make it big inside the Bigg Boss house.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
