Bigg Boss 5 - Launched with Bashing Duo, Sanjay & Salman

By M H Ahssan

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who makes his debut on televison as the host for the fifth season of reality show Bigg Boss, says he was nervous initially but co-anchor and friend Salman Khan built his confidence.

The Bollywood celebrities made a splashing entry at a promotional event here last night, where they played anchors and questioned each other on various things including Khan's recent surgery and talk of an alleged tiff between the star-duo sometime back.

"As an anchor I enjoyed and liked it. I got confidence from Salman. Since this is the first time I am hosting a show so there was nervousness backstage. I was nervous but when we came on stage and Salman started the act and then I became comfortable....and we went with the flow," Sanjay said.

Both Salman and Sanjay have worked together in films like Saajan and Chal Mere Bhai, and share a great friendship.

Sanjay says he considers Salman like his younger brother. "We share a great chemistry, there is a great bond and friendship so all this is fun to do," he said.

Salman, who is hosting the show for the second time, won't be there for few episodes. When asked Sanjay how will he manage the show alone, he said, "I will call up Salman and take his help...we will be in touch. And I have seen the previous season as well."

Sanjay even asked for suggestions on how he should present himself on the show. The response was to perform his famous 'Munnabhai' act and do 'Gandhigiri', considering that the show starts from October 2. The show will be aired from Monday to Friday at 10.30 pm and on weekends at 10 pm on Colors channel.

The fifth season of TV reality show Bigg Boss promises to get bigger and better with two star hosts - Salman and Sanjay - who will be welcoming 14 new inmates including probables like boxer Mike Tyson and pop singer Shakira.

The show sees celebrity contestants stay in a house for about three months, cut off from the outside world. They are overseen by a "mysterious person" known as Bigg Boss.

This time, the location of Bigg Boss house has been shifted to Karjat from Lonavala. Interior designer Shayam Bhatia has designed the 9,000 square feet house.

This year there are two separate bedrooms as against the single bedroom last time where all 14 housemates stayed. The bedrooms have been done in shades of green and fuchsia with a hint of white, brown and yellow. The confession room varies with a shade of royal green and the jail concept is back and black.

The beautifully designed open kitchen is connected to a dining room that extends to the garden area. The outdoor spot consists of a pool, the activity area, gymnasium and the kitchen sink.

This season there will be over 55 cameras following every move of the contestants 24x7. Like last year there will be a special bedroom for the Head-of-House who will get special privileges.

Also, the show will also see two hosts for the first time --Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. Salman, who hosted the fourth season, is the only celebrity who will be repeating the feat for the second time.

Fourteen handpicked strangers, locked in the house for about three months will have to perform all the household chores right from cleaning to cooking to tasks.

The names that are doing the rounds include - former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, Colombian singer and dancer Shakira, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, Nihita Biswas (wife of convicted murderer Charles Sobhraj) Mexican actress Barbara Mori, former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, British singer-rapper Jay Sean, stand-up comedian Sudesh Lehri, Jaspal Bhatti, Shekhar Suman's actor son Adhyayan, TV actors Parul Chauhan (of 'Bidaai' fame), Karan Singh Grover (of 'Dil Mill Gayye') and Amar Upadhyay.

However, the names of the housemates will be out soon as the reality show is set to hit the small screen on October 2 on Colors channel.

"I feel this is the best time to do TV. Earlier I was little afraid to do it. When I went as a guest on Salman's show Dus Ka Dum he had told me that I must host a show. And if there is a good opportunity then he will ensure I do it. It is Salman who told me about Bigg Boss and that is how I came on board," Sanjay said.