The much-awaited Bigg Boss 18, hosted by Salman Khan, is set to premiere on 5th October 2024 on Colors TV. Fans are excited as Salman, the long-time face of the reality show, is returning to entertain audiences with yet another drama-filled season. But this year, Salman isn’t just up against rival shows like Kangana Ranaut’s Lock Up or Karan Johar’s The Traitor. Instead, his toughest competition comes from within—the Marathi version of Bigg Boss, hosted by Ritesh Deshmukh.
Ritesh Deshmukh’s Bigg Boss Marathi is Stealing the Spotlight
Bigg Boss Marathi, now in its fifth season, has taken the TRP charts by storm, and Bollywood star Ritesh Deshmukh is at the helm for the first time as a reality show host. With popular Hindi cinema faces like Nikki Tamboli and Arbaaz Patel joining the show, Bigg Boss Marathi is attracting not just Marathi-speaking viewers but also a large Hindi audience. This year, the show’s TRP numbers are through the roof, with a TVR of 4.4, making it a strong contender even against national shows like Bigg Boss Hindi.
Salman’s Bigg Boss Faces Stiff Competition
Salman Khan has been hosting Bigg Boss Hindi since season 4, and over the years, his presence has become synonymous with the show. However, for the last few years, both the Hindi and Marathi versions have struggled to maintain high TRP ratings. Now, with Bigg Boss Marathi outperforming on the charts, the pressure on Salman and the makers of Bigg Boss 18 is mounting.
The strong TRP numbers from Ritesh’s show in Maharashtra are proving that a regional show can challenge even a popular national show. If a state-based version can perform this well, the expectations from Bigg Boss 18 are naturally even higher. Fans and makers alike are eager to see if Salman’s star power can bring back the magic and break the TRP records once again.
The Salman Khan Factor
When it comes to Bigg Boss Hindi, Salman Khan has been the face of the show for 15 seasons. After starting with Arshad Warsi as host, followed by Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty, the show found its true identity with Salman. He is not only a host but the brand ambassador of Bigg Boss, adding charm and excitement to each season.
While Salman’s hosting continues to be a major attraction, the landscape of television has changed with the rise of OTT platforms. Shows like Bigg Boss are increasingly watched on digital platforms like JioCinema, and the audience shift is noticeable. The big question now is whether Salman Khan can bring the OTT audience back to traditional TV, or if Bigg Boss 18 will see its viewership majorly on streaming services.
This season, Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss 18 has a lot riding on it—not just in terms of content, but in facing the competition posed by his very own franchise, Bigg Boss Marathi. Will Salman’s star power be enough to outshine Ritesh Deshmukh’s successful hosting debut? The battle for TRP supremacy is on, and all eyes are on the premier of Bigg Boss 18 to see if it can reclaim its position as the king of Indian reality TV.
