Bigg Boss Telugu 3: Lesser known facts about the Nagarjuna Akkineni-hosted reality show

Bigg Boss Telugu is all set to return with its third season to be hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni on July 21. Here’s a quick look at a few lesser known facts of the most controversial reality TV series of Telugu television.

It is well-known that the show marks the TV comeback of Nagarjuna Akkineni, who was last seen hosting Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu in 2015. Interestingly, it is rumoured that he is receiving as much as Jr NTR got for the first season of the show.

Renowned production designer-turned-filmmaker Omung Kumar designed the Bigg Boss house, one of the unique features of the reality show. The makers of the show ensure that the house has a new theme every season and this season is no exception. Omung Kumar and his team designs the BB house for the show across all the Indian languages.

Celebrity contestants are predominantly paid on weekly basis. However, the remuneration depends on various factors like their popularity and availability of call sheets as well.

Keeping aside cases of controversial contestants being sent out of the house by the makers, any contestant, who voluntarily wants to quit the show for any reason, must pay penalty to break the contract. None except former Bigg Boss Telugu season 1 contestant Sampoornesh Babu has quit the show citing personal reasons. However, rumour mill has it that he was spared of this clause.

Bigg Boss Telugu has opened the doors for commoners in the previous season hosted by Nani. Ganesh and Nutan Naidu were auditioned and selected through a clinical process spanning over 2 months. But they were reportedly not paid equally well for their stint like their celebrity inmates. However, there will be no commoners in the upcoming season apparently due to lack of time for the audition and the possible risk factors around having commoners in the house.

Unlike the previous season that used approximately 90 cameras, 64 cameras are used this season. Interestingly, cameras are fixed behind the mirrors in the house. Contestants often talk to these cameras and even develop a special bond with them.

Contestants will enter the house a day prior to the premiere of the show submitting all their mobile phones and other prohibited belongings. This year, they are expected to step into the house on July 19 (Friday) depending upon the availability of the house. The premiere episode is expected to be shot on July 20 (Saturday).

Consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the premises of the Bigg Boss house. However, contestants with the habit of smoking, will be provided cigars of their brand as specified by them in the agreement. Nothing but TRP-friendly conversations in the smoking room are aired.

In case of any special article like cosmetics or medicines needed, the contestants can put forth their request to Bigg Boss and the team via the cameras in the house. The team reserves the discretion to provide the requested article.

No holy books or other special articles are allowed into the house. And Bigg Boss house will not have clocks to ensure that the inmates have no track of time. They assess the time based on daylight and their biological cycles.

Since the contestants alone can't clean the huge Bigg Boss house, support staff usually comes at midnight, put on the blinders, clean the house and leave so that no contestant can notice or try to contact them whatsoever.

Unlike the Hindi version, no paranormal incidents were reported in the Bigg Boss Telugu house in both the seasons.