Hyderabad:The much-anticipated season of Bigg Boss 18 kicked off on October 6, 2023, introducing audiences to a diverse cast of 18 contestants, each bringing their unique personalities and backgrounds into the iconic house. Tensions ran high, with conflicts arising on the first day itself, setting the tone for what promises to be an explosive season.
One of the standout moments from Day 1 was the brawl between actors Shehzada Dhami and Chum Darang. The altercation began with an inappropriate comment from Shehzada regarding Chum's identity. During a light-hearted moment, he remarked, "Mirchi lag rahi hai (It is spicy)," to which Chum playfully responded, "Yeh chutney? (This chutney?)" Things escalated when Shehzada added, "Tumhare udhar ki hai na (It is from where you are from)," implying a geographical stereotype that did not sit well with Chum. Visibly offended, she challenged his remark, stating, "I am Indian, and I am offended."
This exchange highlighted the ongoing issues of representation and casual racism, particularly as Chum, originally from the Northeast, has been vocal about the challenges faced by her community in mainstream media. She insisted that such comments give in to stereotypes, and asked Dhami to apologise. The conflict intensified as Shehzada refused to apologise.
Meanwhile, another major highlight of the first episode was an intense discussion between Vivian Dsena, Shehzada Dhami, and Avinash Mishra about the nature of stardom in today's entertainment landscape. Vivian reflected on his early career, asserting that it was once more challenging to achieve success, as only a select few became stars. Shehzada, however, countered this view, emphasising the hard work put in by current actors and questioning Vivian's generalisation.