Indian entrepreneur and reality star Ashneer Grover, recognized for his role in ‘Shark Tank India,’ is currently hosting the streaming reality show ‘Rise & Fall.’ He recently received an intriguing offer from the makers of ‘Bigg Boss 19,’ which is hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
On Friday, Ashneer took to Instagram Stories to share a screenshot of an email from the show’s casting team. The email, sent by Rohit Gupta, Senior Casting Coordinator for ‘Bigg Boss’ season 19, invited Ashneer to join the show as a wildcard contestant. It stated:
“We are delighted to contact you regarding an exclusive opportunity to join the show as a wildcard contestant. Your dynamic personality, engaging social media presence, and unique appeal have caught the attention of our casting team, making you a strong candidate for this exciting role. ‘Bigg Boss’ season 19 continues to captivate audiences with its compelling mix of drama, entertainment, and human connection. As a wildcard contestant, you would have the chance to enter the Bigg Boss house mid-season, bringing fresh energy and perspective to the show.”
While it remains unclear whether Ashneer responded to the email, he did choose to share it on social media, adding humorously: “Haha! Salman bhai se pooch le !! Mai to free ho jaaunga tab tak. Ye ‘mail merge’ kisi ki to naukri khayega.” This translates to, “Haha! Ask Salman bhai! I’ll be free by then. This ‘mail merge’ is going to take someone’s job.”
Ashneer humorously alluded to the possibility of wrapping up his hosting duties on ‘Rise & Fall’ before diving into ‘Bigg Boss 19.’
The relationship between Ashneer and Salman has a backstory. During a ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ episode of ‘Bigg Boss 18,’ Ashneer appeared as a guest, where Salman confronted him regarding previous comments. Ashneer had claimed in a podcast that he was denied a photo with Salman and alleged that he negotiated Salman’s fee for a brand ambassadorship with his company, BharatPe, bringing it down from INR 7.5 crore to INR 4.5 crore. Salman challenged some of Ashneer’s claims, stating he didn’t even remember meeting him. In response, Ashneer accused Salman of creating “unnecessary drama,” asserting that his remarks were exaggerated but not offensive.