Bigg Boss Kannada’s seventh season kicked off on Sunday with host Kiccha Sudeep. In the first episode of the season, he introduced the show's 17 contestants, and the list comprises almost entirely of film and television celebrities.
The show will be aired daily at 9 pm for the next 100 days on Colors Kannada.
Here is the full list of contestants:
Jai Jagadish: A known face in both the Kannada film and television industries, Jagadish has been an actor for over 40 years. He currently is part of the daily soap Kasturinivasa. He was last seen in Aramane, which went off air last year.
Kuri Prathap: Kuri Prathap was the first contestant to be announced. He is a comedian who has been a part of multiple films. Mylari, Godfather, Brindavana and Auto Raja are some of his notable films. He became popular after starring in a prank show on Udaya TV called Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu, the Kannada version of Bakra.
Priyanka: She is most known for reprising the role of Chandrika on the Kannada TV show Agnisakshi, which airs on Colors. She has since left the show.
Ravi Belagere: Senior journalist Ravi is the editor of the tabloid Hi Bangalore and fortnightly magazine O Manase. He is an accused in a supari killing case, and was arrested on December 7, 2018, on charges of hiring a contract killer to murder fellow journalist Sunil Heggaravalli. His daughter was formerly a Bigg Boss contestant.
Chandana Ananthakrishna: The television actor gained popularity as Chukki on Raja Rani, which is broadcast on Colors.
Gurulinga Swamiji: Gurulinga Swamiji of the Akki Mutt of Haveri, a follower of Basavanna, is one of the only non-film personalities on the show.
Vasuki Vaibhav: Vasuki is a lyricist who shot into the limelight in the Kannada film industry for his composition work on the film Rama Rama Re which released in 2016. He has since composed music for films like Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai and Ondalla Eradalla. He is a journalism graduate and theatre artist who is hailed as one of the best new-age Kannada lyricists.
Sujatha: Sujatha is also another face familiar to viewers of daytime television. She starred in the popular Kannada serial Radha Ramana. Sujatha was also formerly a VJ and RJ.
Bhoomi Shetty: Bhoomi is from Bengaluru and has been a popular face who features in several television serials. She shot to fame with the Telugu serial Ninne Peladutha which aired on Zee TV.
Tharak Ponanna: He is known for his role as Daya in KGF: Chapter 1. He was also the lead actor in the TV serial Raja Rani. A model-turned-actor from Kodagu district, he made his debut in Brihaspathi. His other projects include 6 To 6 and he is known for playing villainous characters.
Deepika Das: Deepika Das is a television and film actor who works in Kannada and Telugu films. She debuted in director Samuel Tony’s Doodh Sagar and has also acted in a few Telugu movies like Ee Manase. She shot to fame for her role in the Kannada TV serial Naagini.
Kishen Bilagali: Kishen Bilagali is a 28-year-old dancer who hails from Chikkamagaluru. He left for Bengaluru to study in a boarding school when he was 3 years old and is now based in the state capital. He began attending dance classes at the age of 8. He was also on the Hindu reality show Dance Deewane.
Raju Thalikote: Film and theater actor Raju has acted in Manasaare, Pancharangi, Rajadhani, Charminar, Anjada Gandu and Mast Mohabbat.
Duniya Rashmi: Rashmi shot to fame after acting in Duniya, which released in 2007. However, since then, she has acted in other films such as Mandakini, Orata and Murari.
Chandan Achar: Chandan shot to fame with 2016’s Kirik Party, the campus romantic comedy, for which he won the South Indian International Movie Award (SIIMA) for Best Supporting Role. He hails from Mysuru. He has also starred in movies such as Mugulu Nage and Chemistry of Kariyappa. He will next be seen in Avane Srimannarayana.
Chaithra Kotoor: Formerly a scriptwriter, Chaitra came into the spotlight after acting in Soojidaara, which was then embroiled in controversy due to friction between her and fellow actor Hariprriya.
Shine Shetty: A TV actor, he did supporting roles before he bagged the lead role in TV serial Meera Madhava. He has acted in a few films as well, but his career didn’t take off.
Harish Raj: Actor-director Harish Raj made his film debut with Doni Saagali in 1998, and his TV debut with Hosa Chiguru Hale Beru in 1996. He has acted in films such as Dweepa, Koormavatara, Thaayi Saheba and Kaanuru Heggadathi. In 2011, on the sets of the Kannada movie Gun, he attempted to stab himself and jump off a theatre.