Gaurav Khanna says Pranit More deserved to be the first runner-up: "When he left, I couldn't even feel pleased"

During the season, Gaurav forged deep connections, particularly with Pranit More, which persisted even after his victory.

Bigg Boss 19 came to an end on December 7, with actor Gaurav Khanna claiming the trophy after garnering the most votes in the grand finale. The Anupamaa actor earned a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh and claimed the title of the season's champion. The five leading contestants were Amaal Mallik, Tanya Mittal, Farrhana Bhatt, Pranit More, and Gaurav himself, with Farrhana Bhatt declared the first runner-up and Pranit More as the second runner-up.

During the season, Gaurav forged deep connections, particularly with Pranit More, which persisted even after his victory.

Following the finale, Gaurav Khanna told Pinkvilla that he was truly disappointed Pranit didn't make it to the top two alongside him. He expressed, “I believe Pranit ought to have joined me, and I truly felt upset when my friend, with whom I enjoyed a week and discussed our plans for when we reached the top two, had to go. When he left, I couldn't even feel pleased about being among the top two. I felt only sadness that my friend was absent.”

Gaurav noted that he had just two close friends in the house: Pranit More and Mridul Tiwari. He said, “When Mridul was removed, I genuinely wished for him to remain with me in the top five, but he also departed. I had merely two close friends at home, and I simply hoped that at least one of them would remain with me.”

Although Gaurav was confident in his gaming skills, he admitted that he didn't anticipate winning the season. "Claiming I was certain I would succeed wouldn't be accurate. I aimed to win, and I believed that my integrity and dignified gameplay would resonate with others, so I felt assured about it. However, I was unaware that I would truly win the competition. I'm truly glad that I went through with it," he stated.

The reality show hosted by Salman Khan debuted on August 24, 2025, with 16 participants. Subsequently, wild card entrants Shehbaz Badesha and Malti Chahar entered the house, introducing fresh dynamics to the competition.