Sourav Ganguly ‘putting a lot of effort’, says JioStar leaders ahead of ‘Bigg Boss Bangla’ launch | Interview | Mint
Sourav Ganguly ‘putting a lot of effort’, says JioStar leaders ahead of ‘Bigg Boss Bangla’ launch | Interview
As ‘Bigg Boss’ completes 20 years in entertainment, Bhaskar Ramesh, Head of Entertainment Sales – Digital, and Mahesh Shetty, Head of Entertainment Sales – TV at JioStar, spoke about its market success, future plans and more.
Sourav Ganguly is putting in immense effort ahead of the re‑launch of Bigg BossBangla, JioStar leaders revealed, as the reality franchise marks 20 years in 2026. The former India captain’s involvement is seen as a game‑changer for the show’s revival in Bengal, even as JioStar prepares to roll out six editions of Bigg Bosssimultaneously across languages (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bangla) this September.
Big launch for ‘Bigg Boss 20’
At the unveiling of India’s Bigg Reality, a coffee-table book chronicling the show’s two-decade journey, JioStar’sleadership outlined plans to position Bigg Bossas a cornerstone of India’s largest entertainment ecosystems.
Festive season advantage
Explaining why the festive season works as the franchise’s strongest window, Bhaskar Ramesh, Head – Entertainment Sales, Digital of JioStar, told Live Mint, “The whole country comes together and watches the show. They engage and vote. For three months, we have a platform where brands can latch onto for attentive reach in a format that people understand and a nuanced, customizable way nationally and regionally. That’s why we chose the festive season.”
Calling the show “the IPL of entertainment”, Mahesh Shetty, Head – Entertainment Sales, TV, JioStar, shared that audiences have come to associate the franchise with the festive time of the year.
Also Read|JioStar bets big on Bigg Boss: Mega stars headline six-language expansion
‘Bigg Boss Bangla’ returns with Sourav Ganguly
This year, Bigg Bossmarks its rejuvenation in the Bangla market with the re-launch of Bigg Boss Banglawith Bengal’s favourite dada, Ganguly. The expansion also marks a significant shift for the show, which will now benefit from JioStar’s unified distribution following the merger of Star and
For the unversed, Bigg Boss Banglawas first launched and hosted by Mithun Chakraborty in 2013. It was followed by the second season, hosted by Jeet, on Colors Banglain 2016.
So, what are the makers revamping this time? The leaders said earlier Bangla editions lacked the scale of the network’s current platform, making this year’s launch an opportunity to maximise reach across television and digital.
Also Read|Who is Santy Sharma? MP rapper who is rumoured to join Salman’s Bigg Boss 20
“Today, when we take the proposition of Bigg Boss Banglawith Sourav Ganguly in West Bengal, it is seeing crazy traction from brands. Any brand looking to do business in West Bengal is considering Bigg Boss Banglaas a key platform. Some brands have already signed up, and we are in discussions with several large brands, as they all believe this will be a market winner. We expect multiple brands from the same category to come on board. Having said that, Bigg Boss, Sourav and the festive season are working out to be a great combination,” explained Shetty.
Sourav Ganguly’s commitment
Ganguly previously found success as the host of Zee Bangla’s Dadagiri Unlimited, one of the most popular shows among Bengali audiences.
“For us, Sourav Ganguly brings a lot of star power to the property. He is an iconic figure in the market and even for the country. So, naturally, he would have done other things as well. Bigg Bossis not the only show that Salman has done. He has also done Dus Ka Dum, but he brings something different to Bigg Boss,” clarified Ramesh about competition with Dadagiri.
“Sourav did a great job in Dadagiri. But he will bring a different character and stature to Bigg Boss. He himself will also grow his fan base once he comes to Bigg Boss. He has an immense desire to do very well in whatever he does, as a sportsperson, as an anchor. He himself is putting a lot of effort into seeing how he will portray himself very differently in the hearts of his audiences in a Bigg Bosssetting. I think he will do even better in Bigg Boss,” assured Shetty.
Market competition
The reality show market currently experiences clutter with a plethora of captive reality shows, such as Lock Upp, Alliance, The Traitorsand more.
Commenting on competitors, Ramesh dismissed concerns over market fatigue.
“Bigg Bossis the benchmark. Everyone is trying to mimic it, but the original and authenticity continue to stay. When somebody else tries to copy, the original stands out even more. It is validation that this is the biggest show. It has unmatched stature.”
Shetty added, “There are many differences. Brand is the big difference. The kind of love they have for Bigg Boss, they don’t have for any other reality brand.” He said, “I don’t think anyone else has the kind of stature that Bigg Bosshas. No other reality show has hosts with such kind of weight across markets. Whether it’s on television or JioHotstar, I don’t think anyone comes close to these platforms.”
Ramesh pointed out: “Look at the engagement. Six out of ten people follow the show live after an episode is over. 60 million people have watched the show. They don’t just watch the show; they engage, interact, and even change its outcome. That is why the fandom is so big.”
He added, “Nine billion people vote. Bigg Bossis the most authentic captive reality show in India, both in scale, engagement and business results. It is unmatched. and unscripted.”
Shetty shared, “In the South (India), eight out of ten people watch Bigg Boss.”
About the Author
Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br>
With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br>
Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br>
Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br>
Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.
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