Sep 06, 2026 11:24pm IST
‘Bigg Boss 20’: ‘Mirzapur,’ ‘Panchayat’ Actor Aasif Khan On Reality Show Debut and Inspiration: ‘Sidharth Shukla Is My Favorite Winner’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Indian web series viewers know him as Ganesh, the son-in-law of Phulera in “Panchayat,” or Babar Khan, the loyal aide of the Tripathi family in “Mirzapur.” Actor Aasif Khan, who has essayed these memorable roles is ready to begin his journey on Indian television with “Bigg Boss 20.”
Speaking to Variety India on how confident he is about a long run on “BB20”, he says, “I have been a part of some of India’s biggest web shows like ‘Mirzapur,’ ‘Paatal Lok,’ and ‘Panchayat,’ but I believe an actor should not be known only through his characters. His identity is bigger than that. Also, no one can accurately estimate an actor's fanbase. I believe an actor's fanbase should not be the criterion for advancing them to the finale of a show like this. I consider myself worthy enough to bring home the trophy.”
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Aasif further says that, like many others, Salman Khan’s presence was a huge motivation for him to join “Bigg Boss 20.” He states, “I am a die-hard fan of Bhai. Moreover, I started off as a theater artist, moved to films and did OTT shows. The only unexplored medium was TV. ‘Bigg Boss’ is the biggest platform on this medium, so why not debut with the best?”
Salman Khan’s controversial reality show is known for its fights, abuses and slurs, which can often get pretty dirty. Khan feels that one can shine even without being aggressive. He says, “Once we are inside we discover new sides to our personality. That is the beauty of the show. I am a team player and not a very aggressive person. But you never know, right? I hope aggression is not needed (laughs). Mahatma Gandhi taught us that even non-aggressive people can move mountains.”
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However, unlike many, he has not watched previous seasons of “Bigg Boss” extensively. “I was too busy with my work commitments, but I do enjoy the show. When I was young, I watched the entire season (Bigg Boss Season 2) where Ashutosh Kaushik, the ‘Roadies’ guy was crowned the winner. I watched ‘Bigg Boss 13’ on reels and clips. Sidharth Shukla’s journey was very inspiring and he is my fav winner,” he adds.
Khan says his family, especially his mom and sister are huge “Bigg Boss” fans. “They are the ones who are happiest with my decision. They watch all seasons, weekend episodes, live feeds and so on,” he concludes.
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