Bigg Boss 19 voting twist: Shehnaaz Gill calls choice between Shehbaz and Mridul 'unfair'

Bigg Boss 19 voting twist: Shehnaaz Gill calls choice between Shehbaz and Mridul 'unfair' Aug, 25 2025

A fan vote before the doors even open

Reality TV loves a curveball, and this one lands right at the front gate. As Bigg Boss 19 gears up for its August 24 premiere with Salman Khan back as host, the makers have asked fans to pick who gets the first step into the house: Shehnaaz Gill’s brother Shehbaz Badesha or YouTuber Mridul Tiwari. The segment is branded ‘Fans Ka Faisla’, and it has already stirred a fairness debate.

Shehnaaz, one of the most popular faces from Bigg Boss 13, made her stance clear on Instagram. She said Shehbaz had been “manifesting” a spot on the show since her season, when he stayed in the house for a week and won viewers over. Now that he finally has a shot, she argued, the setup feels off because both contenders have been “nominated and left homeless,” and the choice pits them against each other before the game even begins.

Her message walked a careful line: she wants both to go inside, but she asked fans to vote for Shehbaz. “They are so eager to go inside—let them go there. Only then will they know how difficult the journey is,” she said, urging viewers to “send both the boys in” while also backing her brother for the top spot.

Then came the twist no one expected: Mahira Sharma, once seen as Shehnaaz’s rival during Bigg Boss 13, publicly supported Shehbaz. In her Instagram story, she appealed for votes and even claimed fans could vote “99 times.” Shehnaaz reshared the post—an olive branch that hints at old walls finally coming down.

The vote is part of this season’s democracy theme, which promises to hand more power to the audience. The outcome, revealed on premiere night, won’t just settle bragging rights. It decides who walks in first—always a symbolic moment—and could shape early alliances and airtime in the first few episodes.

  • Premiere: August 24, hosted by Salman Khan
  • Segment: ‘Fans Ka Faisla’ (audience-led decision)
  • Contenders: Shehbaz Badesha vs. Mridul Tiwari
  • Result: To be revealed during the grand premiere
Why the choice matters beyond one entry

Why the choice matters beyond one entry

This isn’t a standard save-or-evict vote. It’s a pre-entry faceoff. That’s why fans are split. Some see smart fan service and a way to kick off the season with noise. Others feel the head-to-head is unfair, especially when one contender is attached to a massive Bigg Boss legacy and the other comes in as a fresh challenger from digital fame.

There’s also the optics. Shehbaz carries the Shehnaaz connection, which means instant attention—and inevitable talk of favoritism. Mridul has his own online following, and a different kind of audience energy. Asking fans to choose before gameplay starts can tilt early momentum and set a tone that’s hard to shake.

Shehnaaz’s voice matters here. She built a loyal fandom during Bigg Boss 13 and remains one of the franchise’s biggest breakouts. When she vouches for her brother, it moves the needle. Her call to “send both” also points to a larger gripe: why put two debutants in a popularity tug-of-war when the season hasn’t even opened the living room door?

So who are the two in the spotlight? Shehbaz isn’t a stranger to viewers; his week-long stint in Bigg Boss 13 showed a playful, high-energy version of him that clicked with audiences. Since then, he’s kept a steady social media presence and stayed connected to the Bigg Boss universe through Shehnaaz’s fans. Mridul Tiwari comes from the creator world—known to digital viewers for his videos and regular uploads—and walks in with the backing of an online community that rallies fast when voting opens.

The showrunners are leaning into the idea of a “democratic” format this year, where the audience has a louder voice across the season. Bigg Boss has always used public voting to save or evict contestants. What’s newer is using that power to script who gets the first step, and possibly more decisions that affect tasks, captaincy, or weekly perks. If the makers keep this up, expect regular flash votes, live tallies, and fan-input twists that can flip strategies overnight.

Of course, democracy on reality TV is a balancing act. Give viewers too much control and house dynamics can become a popularity contest without room for slow-burn arcs. Give too little and the “Fans Ka Faisla” tag feels like branding, not real power. The premiere will show how far producers are willing to go and whether they’ll follow through beyond the opening episode.

The Mahira–Shehnaaz moment is worth pausing on. Their Season 13 friction was well-documented by anyone who watched late-night feeds. A public show of support across stories isn’t just a footnote—it signals that former rivals can rally when the game demands it. For Shehbaz, that’s a win: he gets endorsements from two different fan clusters that don’t often overlap.

What about voting mechanics? The channel hasn’t spelled out the full rulebook in the promo buzz, but posts from celebrity supporters suggest fans can cast multiple votes. Mahira’s “99 times” line raised eyebrows and excitement in equal measure. Whether that number is official or just enthusiastic hype, the takeaway is simple: the loudest fan base could grab the headline moment.

For the franchise, this pre-entry duel is a clear engagement play. It fuels debates, sparks Instagram stories, and turns premiere night into a must-watch instead of a passive scroll. It also gives both Shehbaz and Mridul a spotlight before they’ve said a word in the house, which is no small thing.

Here’s what to watch when the curtain lifts:

  • Who gets the first entry—and does the other follow soon after, or wait?
  • How Salman frames the democracy theme: one-off stunt or season-long promise?
  • Audience power in the first week: Will fan inputs decide tasks, budgets, or captaincy?
  • Early edits and airtime: Does the winner of the vote get a front-loaded narrative?

Bigg Boss has used flash votes before to rank contestants or save favorites in tense weekends, but kicking off with a fan choice is a bolder start. It sets up the season as a two-way street: the house plays, the crowd responds, and the producers steer from the middle. Whether that feels fair or skewed will depend on how many decisions actually leave the studio and land in viewers’ hands.

For now, two debutants wait at the door with a national audience holding the key. Shehnaaz wants both inside, Mahira’s backing surprised everyone, and fans are already picking sides. Premiere night will tell us who crosses first—and how this “democracy” looks when the lights come on.