Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) season 5

Bigg Boss 5, also known as Bigg Boss 5: Double Waat or Bigg Boss: Five-five, five-five, five-five!, is the fifth season of the Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss, which aired on Colors TV from 2 October 2011 to 7 January 2012 with Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan as the hosts.

During the launch on 2 October, fourteen hand-picked housemates entered the house located in Karjat, a town, about halfway between Mumbai and Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Four additional wild card entries were made during the second, third, fourth and the end of seventh week, taking the number of contestants to 18. Three guest entries, who stayed in the house for a couple of days, took the total number of inhabitants to 21. The housemates, considered strangers for each other, spent 98 days (14 weeks) locked out together under the supervision of 55 cameras installed around the house.

The series was won by actress Juhi Parmar on 7 January 2012.

Opening

The opening episode was aired on 2 October 2011 presented by Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan. The extravagant introductory episode to the season 5 showcased different features of the Bigg Boss house and introduced each of the participant. This season also had majority female contestants. It also featured Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn for the promo of their upcoming film Rascals and Samir Soni for promoting his new serial Parichay on Colors.

Housemates status

Housemates

The participants in the order of appearance and entry into the house are:

Original entrants

• Shakti Kapoor – Film actor. He is known for acting in films like Do Waqt Ki Roti, Satte Pe Satta, Musafir and Chup Chup Ke. In 2007, he participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 3 with his wife Shivangi Kolhapure.
• Pooja Bedi – Film actress. She is the daughter of actor Kabir Bedi who is known for appearing in films like Vishkanya, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee. She has participated in reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Nach Baliye and '.
• Shonali Nagrani – Film actress and model. She is known for acting in films like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Dil Bole Hadippa!. In 2009, she participated in '. Shonali had also took part in Femina Miss India where she emerged as the winner for the 2003 contest and runner-up for the international contest. She later presented IPL for four consecutive years.
• Nihita Biswas – Interpreter. Nihita is the wife of serial killer Charles Sobhraj. She claimed they got married inside the jail where Charles was convicted. Nihita’s mother – Shakuntala Thapa is Sobhraj’s criminal lawyer.
• Shraddha Sharma – Television actress. She is known for acting in television shows like Suno Har Dil Kuch Kehta Hai and Saarrthi. She was in the news for her relationship with actor Raja Chaudhary and was the reason for the latter's divorce with Shweta Tiwari.
• Mandeep Bevli – News presenter. She is an anchor with Headlines Today, specializing mostly in entertainment related news. Her firecracker wit and personality make her memorable to all she meets.
• Raageshwari Loomba – Singer. She is well known for singing songs like Duniya, Kudi E' Punjab Di and Kal Ki Na Fiqar. She has acted in films like Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Zid. Raageshwari is also a VJ who has presented many MTV shows like Baar Baar Dekho Tum and Ek Do Teen.
• Vida Samadzai – Model. Vida is from Afghanistan known for being the first Afghan woman to participate in an international beauty pageant Miss Earth 2003 since 1974. Her participation in the Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2003 was condemned by the Afghan Supreme Court, saying such a display of the female body goes against Islamic law and Afghan culture. In particular, traditionalists objected to her appearance in a red bikini during the pageant's press presentation.
• Mahek Chahal – Film actress and model. She is known for appearing in item numbers for films like Chameli, Jai Veeru and Yamla Pagla Deewana. She also acted in films like Nayee Padosan, Wanted and Main Aurr Mrs Khanna.
• Sonika Kaliraman – Wrestler. Kaliraman is a professional wrestler and daughter of legendary wrestler Padma Shree, Arjuna Award winner Master Chandgi Ram. She is the first woman Bharat Kesari title-holder and 10 times National Wrestling Champion.
• Pooja Misrra – VJ, model and actress. Pooja is known for presenting B4U's talk show Jab We Met and participating in Big Switch. Pooja also made her Bollywood debut with Mera Dil Leke Dekho where she did an item number.
• Gulabo Sapera – Dancer. A well-known singer-dancer from Rajasthan, she is famous for her folk style. She broke age-old traditions when took her culture on-stage at the age of 12, which was heavily promoted by the Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• Laxmi Tripathi – LGBT activist. She is a well known transgender activist who is also a dancer and activist. She holds the distinction of being the only Hijra in the UN’s Civil Society Task Force on HIV/AIDS. She also works for the community through her campaign group Astitva.
• Juhi Parmar – Television actress. She is known for playing the lead as Kumkum in Star Plus popular show Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan. In 2009, she participated in Pati Patni Aur Woh with her husband Sachin Shroff.

Wild card entrants

• Amar Upadhyay – Actor and model. He is known for acting in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Mihir. He later acted in films like LOC Kargil, Dharam Veer and 13B.
• Sidharth Bhardwaj – VJ, model and actor. He is known for participating in MTV Splitsvilla 2 and emerged as the winner in 2009. He later presented many shows like MTV Stripped and MTV Roadies.
• Akashdeep Saigal – Model and actor. He is known for playing Ansh / Eklavya in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Ranbir in Kuchh Is Tara. He participated in reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Fear Factor India, Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao and '.
• Sunny Leone – Former pornstar and film actress. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003 and was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment. Named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010, she has also played roles in independent mainstream films and television shows.

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