Amidst the glitter of reality television, popularity is often quantified through its digital footprints. And for Gilli Nata (real name Malavalli Nataraj), a contestant on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 (BBK 12), this digital summit is about to become a reality. A niche comedian known for his "property comedy" and rural charm, Gilli has seen his social media following explode during his stay in the house. When the show premiered, Gilli had a modest following of approximately 1.69 lakh followers on Instagram. As of January 8th, 2026, he is on track to enter the elite "Million Club," with a following that now stands at 9.77 lakh.
The 1 Million Dream: A Wish Fulfilled by Fans
The increase in his followers is no accident; it is the outcome of a fan campaign. During a recent conversation inside the house with fellow contestant Kavya, Gilli expressed a heartfelt wish. He mentioned that he had always dreamed of reaching 1 million followers on Instagram, viewing it as a mark of true public acceptance. Outside the house, fans adopted this “wish” as a mission. Not long after, #Gilli1Million started trending on various social media sites. Supporters from his hometown, Mandya, to fans worldwide began uploading humorous videos and "punch dialogues," imploring others to follow his official handle, @official_gilli_nata.
The Statistical Look at Gilli’s Exponential Growth
Gilli’s emergence is a reflection of his “title contender” status — not to mention the pace at which his followers have ballooned. His impromptu humor and capacity for delivering “tit-for-tat” replies to rivals have endeared him to viewers.
Why Karnataka is Rooting for Gilli
Gilli’s rise from a set-boy and assistant director to Bigg Boss house superstar is a classic underdog story. Famous for his “Halli” (village) style of speech, he has managed to win over both the masses and elites.
- Punch Master: His rhymes and quick wit have kept the audience entertained even during a boring week.
- Resilience: He’s pushed back against more powerful figures and has shown that humor can become an effective weapon in a house rife with conflict.
- Relatability: His success appears personal to many of his rural supporters, coming from a very modest farming background in Dhadapura, Malavalli.
The Finale Awaits
Gilli Nata stands atop the voting charts at this moment with Bigg Boss Kannada 12 being set to conclude in the final week of January 2026. While ultimately the prize should be in his hand, his supporters made sure that he will be walking out of the house a "Millionaire" in followers. Now, with the "Gilli Fever" being on the rise every day, the countdown to his 1,000,000th follower has officially begun. He will not be asking anymore at this juncture if he will make it to such a milestone, but, rather, how many minutes it will take him.
