Mary Kom’s “Mere jaisa koi achieve nahi kiya” remark on Bigg Boss 20 sparked criticism, after which her team issued an apology.
But Mary is not the first sportsperson to enter the reality show. From cricketers and wrestlers to a WWE star, several athletes have entered the Bigg Boss house over the years.
Some reached the finale, some left early, while others became among the most talked-about contestants of their seasons.
So, how have sportspersons actually fared on Bigg Boss? Let’s find out…
Which sportsperson had the best Bigg Boss journey?
- There is no single answer because success on Bigg Boss can be measured in two ways — how far a contestant went and how much impact they had on the show.
- By position, The Great Khali and Sreesanth are tied. Both finished as first runners-up. Khali finished behind Shweta Tiwari in Bigg Boss 4 in 2010, while Sreesanth finished behind Dipika Kakar in Bigg Boss 12 in 2018.
- Sangram Singh also had a strong run in Bigg Boss 7, finishing as the third runner-up.
But if the measure is impact, Sreesanth has a stronger claim. The Indian Express described him as one of the most talked-about contestants of Bigg Boss 12. ThePrint also quoted actor and comedian Danish Sait, who said Sreesanth’s tantrums, emotions and changing behaviour kept viewers coming back to the show.
So, Khali and Sreesanth have the best finishing record, while Sreesanth arguably had the biggest impact.
Why do sports stars join Bigg Boss?
With so many sports stars entering Bigg Boss, one question naturally comes up: why do they choose a reality show after spending years in competitive sport?
- Money is one factor. Bigg Boss contestants are paid for their time on the show, with the amount varying from person to person. For established sportspersons, it offers another source of income after their sporting careers or alongside other professional commitments.
- Visibility is another. Sportspersons such as Mary Kom, The Great Khali and Sreesanth already have a fan base, but Bigg Boss takes them beyond sports audiences and puts their personalities in front of a much wider public.
This is also what the show looks for in its contestants.
Rishi Negi, COO of Endemol Shine India, said ahead of Season 19 that the makers were looking for people with genuine “characters”, rather than simply choosing celebrities because they have a huge following. He said, “I am not going to cast somebody just because they have a huge following.”
For athletes, this means viewers get to see the person behind the sporting career — how they handle friendships, arguments, tasks and everyday life.
There is also the challenge. Athletes are used to training and competing against defined opponents. Bigg Boss puts them in a completely different setting, where relationships, behaviour, tasks and audience votes can decide how far they go.
For some, the show can also help build opportunities in television, entertainment and brand endorsements after their sporting careers.
After the episode aired, Mary Kom’s remarks came under widespread criticism. Some called her delusional, while others described her as self-respecting.
Mary Kom | Boxing | Bigg Boss 20, 2026 A champion boxer now facing a very different kind of competition inside the Bigg Boss house
Mary Kom entered the Bigg Boss 20 house after spending years dominating the boxing ring.
Inside, her disciplined approach quickly stood out. While other contestants were involved in an argument, Mary was seen doing fitness drills, including stretching and skipping.
She also had a heated clash with Rhiti Tiwari over kitchen duties. Her remark, “The whole world knows me. Aap kaun hain, main nahi jaanti,” became one of her early talking points.
In another lighter moment, she tried to understand Gen-Z dating terms such as “situationship” and “benching” as Qazi Touqeer explained them.
Mary later sparked controversy during a conversation with Touqeer when she said, “Mere jaisa koi achieve nahi kiya” (No one has achieved like me). Her team later apologised and clarified that the remark was not meant to put down other women athletes.
Sangram Singh | Wrestling | Bigg Boss 7, 2013 The wrestler reached the final four despite several clashes and changing friendships inside the house
Sangram Singh entered Bigg Boss 7 with an image of being calm and diplomatic. But during the ‘Rajneeti’ task, Armaan Kohli accused him of being a “liar” and “two-faced” after switching sides.
His friendship with VJ Andy also suffered a major fallout. During a courtroom-style task, footage showed Sangram standing aside during Andy’s fight with Kushal Tandon. Andy questioned why Sangram had not supported him. Sangram defended himself, saying he was playing the game for himself.
Despite the changing equations, Sangram survived until the final stages. He became the first finalist after choosing the mystery briefcase and eventually finished as the third runner-up.
Looking back at his Bigg Boss experience, Sangram summed up the house’s changing friendships in one line: “Har aadhe ghante mein friendship change hoti thi.”
The Great Khali | Wrestling | Bigg Boss 4, 2010 The WWE star went the furthest among the early sportsperson contestants, finishing as the first runner-up
Khali was mostly calm inside the house, but his eating habits often became a talking point among the other contestants. His large appetite and food requirements drew comments from housemates and led to disagreements over food.
His equation with Dolly Bindra also became one of the season’s talking points. Bindra treated him like a brother and called him “Veerji”, but the two later had several arguments.
One notable incident came when Khali intervened during an argument between Bindra and Ashmit Patel. The confrontation escalated after Khali pushed Ashmit. During the argument, Ashmit objected to Khali getting involved.
Khali also became the house captain twice during the season. Despite the arguments and changing equations, he reached the finale and finished as the first runner-up, losing to Shweta Tiwari.
Vinod Kambli | Cricket | Bigg Boss 3, 2009 The former India cricketer had a short and relatively quiet stint before being evicted on Day 47
Kambli entered Bigg Boss 3 as a wild-card contestant in November 2009. He had watched the earlier seasons and said he joined mainly to experience what it was like to live inside the Bigg Boss house.
His most emotional moment came when Bigg Boss showed him an old photograph of him with childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar. The picture brought back memories of their early cricketing days, and Kambli said he wanted “one last time” to play with Sachin.
His meeting with host Amitabh Bachchan also became emotional. Kambli called Bachchan his idol and said talking to him was like talking to his father. He opened up about what he had gone through in life.
After being evicted on Day 47, however, Kambli was far less sentimental about the house. He accused contestants of having “dual personalities” and shedding “crocodile tears” to gain sympathy.
Sreesanth | Cricket | Bigg Boss 12, 2018 The former India pacer became one of the season’s most talked-about contestants and finished as the first runner-up
Sreesanth threatened to leave Bigg Boss almost from the beginning. In one of the first tasks, he refused to speak against fellow contestants, after which he asked Bigg Boss to open the gates so he could walk out. His attempts to quit became a recurring part of his journey.
His biggest rivalry was with Surbhi Rana. Their arguments repeatedly escalated, with Surbhi mocking Sreesanth over his earlier slapgate controversy and Sreesanth making an offensive remark about her. Salman Khan later reprimanded him for the comment.
Another dramatic moment came during a luxury-budget task when Sreesanth spat on Deepak Thakur’s name on the scoreboard while trying to help Dipika’s team. The incident angered the housemates, and Sreesanth again tried to leave the house.
Even his equation with Dipika Kakar went through ups and downs. After losing a task against her, Sreesanth returned gifts she had given him, leaving Dipika in tears. Later, Sreesanth himself broke down and had to be comforted by the housemates.
Despite the constant drama, he remained one of the season’s most talked-about contestants and eventually reached the finale, finishing as the first runner-up behind Dipika Kakar.
His Bigg Boss journey in one line: “I will leave this house” became almost as familiar as his emotional outbursts.
Other sportspersons who entered Bigg Boss
Several other sportspersons have also entered the Bigg Boss house.
Former India cricketer Salil Ankola was among the contestants in Season 1 but left early due to contractual issues. Wrestler Sonika Kaliraman entered Season 5 but left within days due to health concerns.
Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu joined Season 6 but left midway because of political commitments.
Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds entered Season 5 as a special contestant and had Pooja Misrra brought back to help him communicate in Hindi.
These shorter stints show that not every sportsperson’s Bigg Boss journey has been about reaching the finale.
Sports stars in the Bigg Boss OTT franchise
The sports connection continued with boxer Neeraj Goyat, who entered Bigg Boss OTT 3 in 2024. He became the first professional boxer to enter the OTT version of the franchise, but his stay was short — he was evicted after just five days.
Unlike the longer television seasons, Bigg Boss OTT moves faster, with contestants facing quicker tasks, nominations and eliminations.
Neeraj’s mid-week eviction was called unfair by the audience, while he also did not believe he had received the fewest votes.
Goyat’s brief stint showed how difficult it can be for a sportsperson to adjust from the discipline of the boxing ring to a house where popularity and audience votes can decide the journey.
