Bigg Boss OTT Hindi, the digital spin-off of India’s most popular reality franchise, may have quietly come to an end. According to reports circulating
on social media, the makers have decided to scrap the OTT version indefinitely. While there has been no official announcement yet, strong industry buzz suggests that the format will not return in its earlier avatar, marking a significant shift in the franchise’s strategy. Launched in 2021, Bigg Boss OTT was introduced as a digital-first extension of the Bigg Boss universe, aimed at tapping into younger, online-only audiences. The show premiered on Voot before moving to JioCinema, with each season featuring a different host and a shorter, faster-paced format compared to the television version. However, the makers now appear to be rethinking this digital-versus-TV divide.
Why Bigg Boss OTT might be discontinued
As per Bigg Boss Tak, a BB Khabri page on X, the core reason behind shelving Bigg Boss OTT is a strategic one. The makers have reportedly decided to run only one Bigg Boss show in Hindi going forward, which will be available simultaneously on television and OTT platforms. This move is aimed at avoiding audience fragmentation and ensuring that viewers are not forced to choose between digital-only or TV-only formats.
By merging the viewing experience, the creators hope to maximise reach, boost engagement, and streamline production costs. Instead of running two separate seasons with different formats, hosts, and timelines, one unified Bigg Boss season will cater to both platforms at the same time. Bigg Boss 19, which streamed on OTT an hour before, got great ratings both on TV and OTT.
A look at Bigg Boss OTT’s journey
Bigg Boss OTT premiered on August 8, 2021, with filmmaker Karan Johar as the host. Divya Agarwal emerged as the winner of the first season, while Nishant Bhat was the runner-up. The second season saw Salman Khan step in as host, with YouTuber Elvish Yadav winning the trophy and Abhishek Malhan finishing second. The third and reportedly final season was hosted by Anil Kapoor, with Sana Makbul lifting the title and Naved Shaikh as the runner-up.
Across three seasons, a total of 45 contestants participated in Bigg Boss OTT, with five of them later appearing in the main Bigg Boss television seasons. The show played a key role in introducing digital creators and influencers into the mainstream reality TV space.
