Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 Contestants
The direct answer to the season’s main curiosity is: this time, Bigg Boss Telugu 9 features a mix of celebrity contestants and commoners, split across two different houses. That’s right—double the gossip corners, double the potential alliances, and a setup that feels like some mad scientist’s sociological experiment (but with more glamour and less academia).
The celebrities include names like film and TV regulars Sanjjanaa Galrani (remember when she got in the news for that 2020 case? Fresh start here), Suman Shetty (comic relief from all across the southern industry), Thanuja Puttaswamy (Parvathi from Mudda Mandaram, for those who still binge serials), Flora Saini (50+ films, survived a lot—her intro touched on domestic abuse), Jabardasth Emmanuel, Rithu Chowdary, Bharani Shankar (Baahubali credit on his resume, plus hilarious drama about his “red box” at entry), Shrasti Verma (choreographer for Pushpa 2 and more), and Ramu Rathod (voice behind “Ranu Bombayi Ki Ranu”—he’ll handle singing and, apparently, daily chores).
But here’s the twist that stole the launch: the commoner contestants got the star treatment. Srija Dammu, Priya Shetty, Demon Pawan, Harita Harish, Kalyan Padala, and Manish Maryada are all non-celebs—chosen from the brutally competitive pre-show “Agnipariksha.” (I imagine it was part Hunger Games, part engineering campus election, and if that’s not real-life drama, what is?)
The judges, Bindu Madhavi, Navdeep, and Abhijeet, had their own “panel of doom” moments—they whittled down 45 hopefuls to a shortlist. By the end, audiences voted in favorites, and boom: commoners get the main Bigg Boss house, celebrities are shuttled to the “lesser amenities” house. That’s bold.
The split feels delightfully messy. My favorite entry moment? Bharani Shankar determined to bring his red box into the house—rules said no personal belongings, but he just wouldn’t drop it. Standoff ensued; sometimes you wonder if celebrity stubbornness ever finds a match.
Here’s a quick, informal rundown of the initial contestants
Celebrities:
- Sanjjanaa Galrani
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTmIMEgp8s/
- Suman Shetty
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTqox_Auzi/
- Thanuja Puttaswamy
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTa45RDQpz/
- Flora Saini
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTcj_9EozJ/
- Jabardasth Emmanuel
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTe3cxgfGy/
- Rithu Chowdary
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTjkIfkhx6/
- Bharani Shankar
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTinwiDvip/
- Shrasti Verma
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTgbiwkr58/
- Ramu Rathod
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTqDR3kwQi/
Commoners:
- Srija Dammu
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTpGGPAYz8/
- Priya Shetty
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTrS5ViHZY/
- Demon Pawan
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTl0Hmkg62/
- Harita Harish
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOThgu3DJSm/
- Kalyan Padala
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTdpXGDWc2/
- Manish Maryada
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTs90Wkq0u/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ed4eda40-729b-4973-bf86-a5c2a1d545d0
And if you’re the type who tunes in for odd chores assignments, this season’s already busy judging who cooks, who cleans, and—classic Bigg Boss—who gets dragged into the kitchen first (spoiler: Priya Shetty picked Sanjjanaa Galrani for cooking after all of five minutes of deliberation; alliances start early).
Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 Start Date
Quick fact: Season 9 kicked off on September 7, 2025, with its grand launch at 7 pm. Star Maa and JioHotstar were flooded with viewers. If you blinked, you missed Nagarjuna’s high-energy opening dance to “Soniya Soniya.” People online called it “extra,” but personally? It was exactly what the doctor ordered for a massive TV premiere.
For those curious about future plans, makers confirmed this season runs about 100–120 days, so go ahead and start your weekend rituals now. The finale will hit in December, which means two months of “Did you see what happened last night?” WhatsApp spam in your life. You’ve been warned.
Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 Host
The host this year: superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni. Yep, again. If someone’s keeping count, he’s now hosted seven seasons—by now, he’s as much part of the Bigg Boss furniture as the kitchen sink. Some viewers say he plays it too diplomatic, but honestly, his wry “did you really do that?” looks have become half the fun for fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DOSY1y-Em0k/?hl=en
During the premiere, Nagarjuna did an actual task to unlock the new house (a tradition now), gave a rapid-fire tour of the double house format (lavish vs minimal, honestly feels like college hostel vs alumni suite), and had a blast pitting commoners against stars. Plus, let’s not overlook how he manages the chaos—at one moment, assigning household duties with the kind of grim amusement a parent would have when dividing up chores between siblings.
Thoughts, in passing: Nagarjuna’s hosting style has mellowed over the years, more “cool uncle” and less “strict principal.” His rapport with the contestants—especially stars who try bending house rules—gives the show its tongue-in-cheek edge. After Bharani Shankar’s red box confrontation, Nagarjuna’s job description could just read: “Occasional mediator, frequent entertainer.”
Lighthearted Observations and Small Anecdotes
This season’s raw, lively rollout—split houses, commoners vs celebrities—feels like Bigg Boss finally embracing its wild side. My WhatsApp group (the ones who claim to “hate reality TV”) couldn’t stop debating if commoners will actually outlast the celebs in the big house this year. Bets are on.
Another classic moment: Priya Shetty enters as the fifth commoner, chosen by audience votes, followed minutes later by Sanjjanaa Galrani, who gets picked for cooking duties. It was almost like watching a hostel canteen allocation, but with designer clothes and camera crews.
Sometimes, it’s the unscripted bits—like Shrasti Verma’s intro where she casually drops that she’s choreographed for “Pushpa 2”—that make you mentally cheer them on. Or Suman Shetty, who, as Nagarjuna joked, probably has more comic timing than the show itself.
No Overly Polished Endings, Just Real Talk
Look, if you want neat tables of who entered when or perfectly formatted FAQs, this year’s Bigg Boss Telugu might drive you up the wall. But if you’re in for the chaotic, relatable mess of a game where stars get sent to the “less amenities” house and ordinary folks get the limelight, buckle up.
Let’s be honest—the format is refreshing, the contestant pool is spicy, and the vibe is already trending. If you’re tuning in to see who fights over beds or who ends up breaking the kitchen mixer first, you’re not alone.
