Bigg Boss 20 has barely begun, but there is already a strange sense of déjà vu inside the house. Every season of Bigg Boss promises a fresh set of personalities, but this time, many contestants seem oddly familiar. Because they are copying former housemates, but because their personalities, mannerisms, conflicts and approaches to the game appear to echo contestants viewers have already watched in previous seasons, not necessarily.
In season 19, even Kunicka had made such remarks for the girls in the house and expected them to work. Yung DSA is quite active and has stolen the show in the first episode itself While MC Stan was largely inactive in the house and still won the trophy. Qazi also appears to have shades of Shalin Bhanot in him. Shalin was known for his larger-than-life behaviour in the house, as well as his dramatic reactions to even minor situations. Qazi seemed to display a similar side on the very first episode. He teased Arishfa before later trying to downplay Yung DSA’s mistake. The situation eventually escalated into an argument between the two. Qazi was heard saying, “baap pe mat jana (don’t bring my father in between) Although the rapper had not even mentioned Qazi’s parents. Her approach has shades of Kunickaa Sadanand, particularly in the way she seems comfortable telling others what they should be doing. At the same time, her confidence and occasional arrogance can remind viewers of Shilpa Shinde and Pooja Bhatt. Mahhi often comes across as someone who believes she knows what is best for the house. Interestingly, Mahhi had claimed in an interview that the Bigg Boss team felt her personality was similar to Gauahar Khan. But based on what she has shown in the house so far, that comparison seems difficult to make. If anything, Mahhi appears to be a mix of personality traits that Bigg Boss viewers have already seen before — the assertiveness of Kunickaa, the confidence and superiority of Pooja, and the tendency to poke others that made Shilpa such a formidable player. Amrapali Dubey brings a different kind of familiarity. Her emotional intensity and the way she handles interpersonal situations are reminiscent of Rashami Desai. Another incident that reminded me of Rashmi after watching the episode was Amrapali keeping her opinions forward strongly, roasting others and maybe just a little bullying too, like Rashmi did to Shehnaaz. Love Gill has already attracted comparisons with Shehnaaz Gill among fans, but there is another Bigg Boss personality she seems closer to: Mahira Sharma. Rather than simply being the bubbly, entertaining personality viewers associate with Shehnaaz, Love appears to have a more outspoken and reactive side that can remind one of Mahira’s stint on the show. Yung DSA is perhaps the closest comparison to MC Stan this season, although with a noticeably more fun and easy-going energy. Both have the rapper/influencer identity and a distinctly Gen Z presence, but Yung DSA appears to bring more humour and playfulness to the house. However, it’s yet to be seen if he can carry this forward or he’ll walk in Stan’s footsteps. Like Isha Malviya, who was among the younger contestants in her season but never allowed that to make her a passive participant, Arishfa has already shown that she is willing to stand her ground. In the very first episode, she picked a fight with Qazi Touqeer and also gave it back to Mahhi when she felt Mahhi was trying to order her around. Her willingness to confront bigger personalities could make her one of the season’s unexpected players.
In the first episode, she was seen making remarks such as, “Tum toh ladkiyan ho chai banani aani chahiye (You are girls, you should know how to make tea),” while asking Arishfa, Love Gill and Isha Rikhi to make tea for her. She was seen ordering Aman Gandhi to pick up her bags from the storeroom and, when he asked her to request him politely, she refused, saying, “Tujhe please bolungi? (I’ll request you?)” The moment had shades of the superiority complex that Pooja often displayed during her stint on the show. Arishfa Khan is the classic “chhota packet, bada dhamaka” of the season.
