The makers of Bigg Boss 19 have tossed in a curveball before the season even starts: a public vote that decides whether Shehbaz Badesha (Shehnaaz Gill’s brother) or digital creator Mridul Tiwari gets the final spot in the house. It’s a clean, high-stakes face-off powered by two massive fandoms—and it has turned into a test of equations off-screen too. Shehnaaz is openly campaigning for Shehbaz. Elvish Yadav, winner of Bigg Boss OTT, has lined up behind Mridul. And their supporters are going all-in.
A pre-season twist with high stakes
This is being pitched as a first for the franchise: a pre-season gate where viewers pick one contender and shut the door on the other. For the show’s creators—Endemol Shine India, with the Salman Khan-fronted format on Colors—this is a smart push. It pulls in digital traffic before the premiere, warms up social chatter, and taps into two giant online communities at once. Shehnaaz Gill’s Bigg Boss 13 legacy still drives serious fan energy. Elvish Yadav’s post-OTT clout is a force on Instagram and YouTube. Put them on opposite sides, and you get instant heat.
On one side, Shehnaaz has urged her followers to vote for Shehbaz, making it personal and direct. Her journey on Bigg Boss 13 and the emotional connect she built there still works for her—and by extension, for Shehbaz. On the other, Elvish has used his Instagram stories to rally votes for Mridul Tiwari, a creator with his own strong audience. That means the vote isn’t just between two contestants; it’s a tug-of-war between two social media ecosystems.
The mood online? Charged. Fan groups have rolled out graphics, clips, and call-to-action posts on X and Instagram within hours. Some are celebrating the format as “democratic,” others call it skewed because celebrity-backed candidates gain a big head start. The comments on both sides don’t mince words, and yes, it’s loud—and getting louder.
Mridul Tiwari has stepped in to cool the temperature, at least on his end. In an interview, he said the poll felt unfair and argued both he and Shehbaz should be allowed in together. He also acknowledged Shehnaaz’s experience with the show and the edge that brings. It’s a rare, measured note in a week of sharp fan exchanges.
What this face-off means for the show—and the friendship
Why stage a choice like this before the season? It does three things. First, it moves buzz from rumor to action—votes, not just guesses. Second, it gives the production a read on which fanbase is more mobilized right now. Third, it sets an early narrative for the show: whoever wins enters the house with momentum, and whoever loses exits with a ready-made storyline that could resurface later as a wildcard. Bigg Boss has a long history of bringing in wildcards mid-season; viewers know the door rarely shuts completely.
There’s also a softer subplot: Shehnaaz Gill and Elvish Yadav have maintained a friendly public rapport. They’ve been respectful of each other’s journeys. Now their supporters are on opposite ends of a very public vote. Do friendships bend under fan pressure? Sometimes. But both are media-savvy, and neither has thrown shade. So far, they’ve kept this strictly professional: endorse, appeal, move on.
Zoom in on the two contenders and you see clashing strengths. Shehbaz Badesha carries the emotional halo of Bigg Boss 13 via his sister. He’s known to the show’s core audience from guest appearances and family-week moments back then, and that familiarity matters in a house where first impressions shape early votes and alliances. Mridul Tiwari brings creator energy and a knack for quick content. That’s gold in an era where weekly tasks, confession room moments, and meme-able reactions can dominate the outside conversation and feed back into the game.
The fairness debate won’t go away, though. Pre-season votes like this inevitably lean on the size and speed of a campaign, not just the merit of a contestant. A fanbase with better coordination can swing momentum early. That’s the price of fan-first formats: they’re authentic but not always level. The counter-argument is simple—Bigg Boss thrives on audience choices from day one. This twist only brings that reality forward by a few weeks.
What about the show’s broader stakes? Early engagement often correlates with stronger premiere-week ratings and more active social watch-alongs. The producers are likely counting on spillover effects: more discussion, more tune-ins, more clips shared, and more micro-moments that keep the season sticky. If this vote turns explosive—and it already feels that way—the opening episodes can ride that wave.
The community dynamics are telling. Shehnaaz’s supporters are framing this as “protect the family, back Shehbaz,” tying his run to her Bigg Boss legacy and the loyalty that came with it. Elvish’s base, hardened by the grind of OTT voting, is running a disciplined pitch for Mridul—snappy edits, clear CTAs, and the kind of relentless reposting that wins tight deadlines. Both strategies work for different reasons. Emotion wins hearts. Execution wins hours.
We don’t have the final numbers or platform specifics yet, but here’s what usually decides these battles: how fast each side mobilizes in the first 24–48 hours; how many creator allies jump in on either side; and whether any single clip—funny, heartfelt, or dramatic—goes viral and flips undecided voters. Vote limits and platform rules (the show’s official voting channels set those) will also shape the result.
There’s the human angle too. If Shehbaz gets in, he’ll carry the weight of expectations. Fans will compare every move to Shehnaaz’s BB13 arc, fair or not. If Mridul wins, he’ll be expected to translate creator charisma into house strategy—task wins, alliances, calm under provocation. That adjustment is harder than it looks. Bigg Boss compresses time, stretches nerves, and rewards those who read the room quickly.
Could both still make it? On paper, no—the premise is winner-takes-all. But Bigg Boss has pulled reversals before. Contestants who miss the first cut sometimes walk in as wildcards once the season settles, especially if the audience keeps asking for them. If fan chatter stays this loud, don’t rule anything out.
As for the Shehnaaz–Elvish equation, it may not be as fragile as some fear. Industry friendships ride out professional clashes all the time. The line both seem to be holding—support your pick, avoid personal shots—usually keeps things civil. What matters more is how fans behave once the result drops. Victory laps can inflame tensions. So can gloating. If both camps keep it clean, this remains a good story for the show, not a bad one for the people in it.
The announcement is expected soon. Until then, the playbook is simple: vote on the official platforms, don’t fall for fake polls, and ignore unverified “leaks” that claim to know the result. Bigg Boss seasons are marathons, not sprints. This is just the 0.1-mile marker—and it’s already setting the tone.