Bigg Boss Season 19 kicked off with a grand premiere on August 24, revealing the much-awaited contestant lineup. Even before the season began, social media was buzzing with speculations about who would participate and what they might be paid. Among the many rumours, the one that caught maximum attention was actor Gaurav Khanna allegedly being the highest-paid contestant this year.
Speaking to India Today before entering the house, Gaurav addressed the chatter, choosing not to confirm or deny the claims. He said, “Thanks to God’s grace, I have worked hard and earned the love of the audience.”
The Anupamaa actor reflected on why he decided to participate. “I believe it has little to do with my past behavior. It’s more about participating in a reality show when people can’t accuse me of being there solely for fame,” he explained.
Gaurav further shared that he wanted to push himself beyond comfort. “My career is progressing well, and I aim to keep moving forward. I also wanted to reconnect with the younger version of myself who arrived in Mumbai years ago. I want to see if that person still exists within me through this show.”
When asked about his rumored fees, the actor clarified, “It might be a rumor, or it might not be. People talk a lot, and I don’t put stock in gossip. I never evaluate an actor based on their salary. It’s all about what you bring to the table. I’m not even aware of who the other contestants are, and financial matters are never discussed. My focus is solely on performing well this season.”
Apart from Gaurav Khanna, the contestant list for Bigg Boss 19 includes Baseer Ali, Ashnoor Kaur, Awez Darbar, Nagma Mirajkar, Abhishek Bajaj, Tanya Mittal, Nehal Chudasama, Amaal Mallik, Pranit More, Kunickaa Sadanand, Farrhana Bhatt, Zeeshan Quadri, Natalia Janoszek, Neelam Giri, and Mridul Tiwari. Adding to the excitement, international icons Mike Tyson and The Undertaker are also expected to join the show as wild card entrants.