Exclusive - 'Salman Khan watches every episode of Bigg Boss, this is a completely unscripted show,' says Rishi Negi, COO, Endemol Shine India

In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Rishi Negi, COO of Endemol Shine India, the company behind the show, sat down to talk about the show and its connection with Salman, what he brings to Bigg Boss (besides the obvious star power and die-hard fan following), and also how the makers have adapted themselves to the ever-changing viewing scene of India and the world over.

The secret lies in right casting 

Rishi Negi talked about this bold new direction, the importance of casting the right contestants, the role of Salman Khan, and why the franchise remains a cultural force even in the era of reels and short-form entertainment.

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During the course of this exclusive conversation, Rishi Negi explained that the core idea behind this year’s format was mainly rooted in transparency and accountability.

“For the last couple of years we've got a lot of these blames and blemishes saying that Bigg Boss is biased and that's the reason we very clearly decided that this year let all the decision-making rest with the Gharwalas. So, there is no blame that can be passed up because this show has always been a reality show. This is an unscripted show. Bigg Boss' role is only to ensure that the rules and regulations that are set out as a format are followed and globally we do that."

According to him, the innovation lies in forcing contestants to make and own their decisions.

“Now the Gharwalas are making the decision good or bad, they are called. So the idea started with that and obviously it makes for very interesting storytelling. When you see people making decisions and then whatever issues crop up from there, right? Because they have nowhere else to go, then they have to face the fact that they have collectively taken a decision," he says with a hearty laugh during the conversation.

We pressed him about Salman Khan, who forms the center of it all and to this he didn't hesitate in admitting that no one else could carry the show the way Salman does.

“This show can be hosted only by somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve. Who doesn't mind that? Who does not mind giving his opinions. Who is willing to put his thought outside to the contestant and to the world? Whether you like it or whether you don't like it. And I think nobody better than Salman (Khan) can do that. You know, he works, and he talks in his own style. If something comes to his mind, he'll say that thing. And you're very clear," says Rishi Negi.

Rishi further added that the value Salman Khan brings is unmatched for both audiences and brands.

“At least creatively for us. He's the guy who guides, scores, corrects, and all of that. And it becomes a position of authority. And that's where people listen. And people always listen to him and understand his point of view. So, I think he brings a lot to the show. He brings his own stature, his… I mean, he's the biggest star in the country and nobody can deny that," he added.

Salman Khan

Beyond charisma, Salman Khan is deeply involved in the show’s content. We quizzed him that often it is said that Salman Khan doesn't watch the show or is only aware of one side of the story; to this Rishi Negi revealed that the superstar carefully watches the episodes before going on stage for the famous Weekend Ka Vaar.

“He is extremely committed; he (Salman Khan) watches the weekend, and he has a point of view on everything, so it's not that he doesn't watch; he watches.Obviously sometimes he watches at a go; sometimes he might miss out on one or two episodes but when he comes over on the weekend, he catches up. He sees everything. If he says that, you know this is happening in the house; he has seen what's happened before and after that, and only then does he form an opinion. So he has a complete understanding before he goes on the floor and he's extremely involved. He's looking very sharp; he's looking very good so I'm very happy," said Rishi.

The conversations before Weekend Ka Vaar are equally crucial, says Rishi. "Before SK goes on the floor we have discussions; he puts his point forward, we say ours and finally, you know, whatever is said is agreed with him and if he says something, there is no stopping him," he added.

This, Rishi Negi also points out, is why nobody can dictate Salman Khan and why his involvement lends credibility to the show’s unscripted nature. The show may be designed as a social experiment, but the authority Salman carries ensures it remains authentic and unfiltered.

"Nobody can dictate Salman Khan, and Bigg Boss has never been scripted," he said.

Bigg Boss Goes Digital First

Rishi also touched upon how the digital-first approach has changed the way the show is made.

“Right now for the first time, the show comes on Jio Hotstar; it's a digital first. And we have breaks every 10 minutes. Very unlike TV. TV is always 22 minutes of a playout, and then you have a break, then another, longer duration playout. So even on your edit patterns, you have to be so sharp that for every eight or nine or 10 minutes or the 11th minute that you're breaking, you need to create hook points.”

Bigg Boss 13, the most successful edition

Rishi Negi is clear that while formats can keep evolving with changing times, the success of Bigg Boss always rests on the strength of its casting—the contestants.

Season 13, remembered as the most successful edition of the franchise, remains his benchmark.

“I think the key part to this show has and always will be the casting that you do, the different kinds of characters that you get into the house. Because this show is all about a social experiment where you're putting different types of personalities in here—we do it with celebrities—you're putting them in isolation. You are putting them in situations and you see how they react to those, right? … Everybody talks about season 13, and that was because of the characters. I mean, you had Siddharth (Shukla), you had Shehnaaz (Gill), you had Asim Riaz, and Paras. It was a great cast. It is the cast, which actually drives the story forward," he stresses.

Rishi said he is happy that Season 19 is already resonating in the same way. “People are really appreciating the casting, the people in the house, and the characters in the house. So I think this season is getting a lot of love and makes you very happy.”

Karan Veer Mehra and Sidharth Shukla

Despite challenges posed by short attention spans and AI-driven content, Rishi Negi insists that Bigg Boss retains its pull because of its human essence.

“This is all about it; the show is basic. They showcase it as a very basic human nature, right? We are all artistic. Like, if you look at it, there's a social experiment going on, but as a viewer, I'm a fly on the wall where I'm seeing these 16 people live their lives for the next three and a half or four months in the house, right? And how they're reacting to the various situations," he says.

Rishi says Bigg Boss has endured in such changing times as well because it mirrors everyday human emotions—love, friendship, fights, and betrayal—but under a magnifying glass.

The introduction of social media influencers alongside actors, the infusion of new storytelling tools, and the shift to OTT platforms may keep the show fresh, but its foundation lies in the drama that unfolds when the contestants clash.

Bigg Boss 19 airs of Jio Hotstar at 9 pm and Colors at 10:30 pm daily.