The year was 2013. The first season of Bigg Boss Kannada had just aired on ETV Kannada with the presenter Kichcha Sudeep as its charismatic figurehead. Of the 15 original contestants, the struggle for the trophy ultimately descended until Vijay Raghavendra and Arun Sagar vied for the title. And though Vijay got his title in the bag, a very large part of the crowd felt that Arun Sagar -- the most popular and creative actor of the season--was the “real winner.” Now that Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 is about to finish, an almost eerie parallel question is being debated right across the State of Karnataka: Is history about to repeat itself with Gilli Nata?
The entertainment king: The supremacy of Gilli Nata
Coming into the house as an underdog was the seasoned comedian Gilli Nata, who’d appeared in several reality shows. But his wisecracks, village-style jokes and emotional sincerity soon made him a household name. Just like Arun Sagar in Season 1, Gilli has been the lifeblood of the house, bringing constant entertainment and a huge fan base that has not let him slip out of his top spot on voters’ lists for weeks.
For his supporters, Gilli is the only one worthy of the award. “They say he has ‘been carrying the show on his shoulders,’ and they have every reason to believe it on social media. However, even as he holds sway, the scales feel being tipped towards others as the finale comes near, on January 18, 2026.
The 'Kicchana Chappale' Twist
One of the key turning points was at the weekend when Kichcha Sudeep gave the final Kicchana Chappale (Kichcha’s Applause) of the season. To the surprise of Gilli fans, Dhruvanth and Ashwini Gowda were the recipients of the honor. Sudeep commended Dhruvanth for his steady development and entertainment value (a move that some Gilli fans saw as an insult to their favorite).
Inside the house, the blow struck immediately. Contestant Raghu was quoted as saying to fellow contestant Gilli: "Dhruvanth might actually win this time," adding that “The momentum made with the host’s appreciation is great." Also due to Ashwini Gowda's steady show of success in the 'Ticket to Finale' tasks, there are many fans who are also suggesting a female nominee may, at last, take the crown.
The Curse of the ‘Runner-Up’?
One of Gilli Nata’s biggest worries for his fans is not about the competition alone. Although skilled, Gilli has a “dark history” of qualifying for finals and coming in second place in previous matches, including Season 4 of Comedy Khiladigalu.
BBK 12 will come in the same vein, fans worry. If Gilli loses the trophy to Dhruvanth or Ashwini but is so popular for that reason, he can only solidify himself as the "Arun Sagar of Season 12"—that is, the player who wins hearts but is eliminated from the final.
As finale moves closer, viewers are splitting. They have raised the question of just how much the voters will really give — by giving the entertainer who has made them laugh for all 100 days a chance to receive such a win at the finish line, or will there be a "finale momentum" that will be skewed toward those "new talent"? The only thing sure, is that who wins — who really does what – a dispute as "merit versus popularity" will continue long after the lights dim inside the Bigg Boss house.
