Ashneer Grover takes a dig at Salman Khan, claiming Bigg Boss 19 gives more power to the host than contestants. (PC: Pinterest)
Reality star-entrepreneur Ashneer Grover has once again taken aim at Salman Khan, the host of Bigg Boss 19. As Grover promotes his own show Rise and Fall, he accused Khan of overshadowing contestants and hijacking power in reality TV, saying contestants do the heavy lifting while hosts appear for just a few key moments. Here’s everything to know, from his remarks to the reaction and history of their rivalry.
Ashneer Grover, speaking in a recent interview, was critical of the way Bigg Boss 19 is currently operating. Not mentioning Salman Khan by name initially, he stated: Reality shows have to be about contestants. … it's become more about him than the contestants, right? … Bhai aap to ek weekend mein aa rahe ho. Jo 24 ghante lage hain woh to contestant lage hue hain.
He further said, "The balance of power has to return to contestants … instead of it being hijacked by someone you know who shows up over the weekend.
Grover's argument: the contestants work around the clock, but the host (in his opinion) only shows up at splashy big moments.
Ashneer Grover is most popular for his appearance as a judge on Shark Tank India and business experiences (such as with BharatPe).
He currently serves as the host for Rise and Fall, a reality show where the contestants compete in teams named "Rulers" and "Workers". The show format provides ongoing interaction, while Bigg Boss' superstar host can appear for large episodes such as Weekend Ka Vaar. This provides a natural point of comparison which Grover is employing in his critique.
This is not the first time Ashneer has been going after Salman Khan. Previously, he was allegedly denied a selfie with Salman on an ad shoot, which created tension. Salman later hit back at the remark on Bigg Boss 18, and Grover had since apologized. Nevertheless, Grover contends that this trend speaks of a greater issue: that authority in reality shows tends to go to the big stars rather than the common contestants.
Bigg Boss 19 comes back with Salman Khan as the host; his is a high-profile job, particularly during Weekend Ka Vaar, but contestants are in the house 24/7. Grover makes a point that the every day screen time, daily battles, and individual stories of contestants should count more in defining the show, instead of long speeches by the host.
With Rise and Fall, it appears that Grover is providing a variation wherein the contestants are more in the forefront of competition and storytelling.
There are fans who concur with Grover, praising him for speaking about what they believe to be bias in favor of the hosts in Bigg Boss. Others fault him, remarking that popular faces such as Salman provide shows visibility and audience; they believe that being a host is also a challenging job involving hefty responsibilities.
ALSO READ: The Best of Bigg Boss: Top 8 Seasons Ranked
