Bigg Boss, India’s beloved reality show, has seen a transformation in recent years. No longer solely decided by audience votes, the show has become a battleground where dedicated PR teams and social media influencers play a significant role in influencing contestants’ fate, evictions, and even their prospects of winning the coveted title.

Telugu360’s article on Dedicated PRs during Bigg Boss-2 and the backlash from the readers:

Looking back five years ago, when Telugu360 published an article addressing this growing trend during Bigg Boss Telugu Season 2, it received mixed reactions from readers. While some agreed with the concerns raised in the article, many vehemently defended the contestants and the authenticity of the show. They went on to condemn the existence of paid PR in Bigg Boss Telugu. However, times have changed, and dedicated PR teams have become an integral part of the Bigg Boss phenomenon.

In the early days of Bigg Boss Telugu, audiences may not have been aware of the existence of paid Public Relations (PR) teams managing contestants. Season 2 brought Kaushal Manda into the limelight, and with him, the birth of the “Kaushal Army,” a social media group dedicated to supporting him. While the Telugu audience praised Kaushal, they may not have realized how subtly they were influenced by the countless memes and social media posts, created by his PR teams, favoring him and targeting his opponents.

At that time, paid PR was still a relatively new concept in the Telugu Bigg Boss universe. Contestants like Kaushal, who employed PR teams, had a natural edge over their fellow contestants, who entered the show without similar backing. Kaushal’s eventual victory, while celebrated, was also influenced by behind-the-scenes PR efforts. This is not to belittle the efforts and game of Kaushal who played with lots of focus and perseverance but only to highlight the gameplay behind the scenes.

https://www.telugu360.com/dedicated-prs-spoiling-sport-for-bigg-boss-show/

https://twitter.com/telugu360/status/1024134434566680577

As seasons progressed, more contestants admitted to using PR teams. Geethu, a contestant from a previous season, shared her experiences, mentioning how despite investing in multiple PR teams, her victory remained elusive. Nataraj Master, a contestant from Bigg Boss Non-Stop, openly accused Bindu Madhavi of having a powerful PR team that targeted other contestants. Bindu herself acknowledged and thanked her “beloved teams” after securing the title.

All contestants of the current season have their PR teams:

In the current season, almost every contestant is backed by paid PR teams. Their responsibilities range from generating social media content in favor of their clients to creating memes that target their fellow contestants. These teams also wield influence over voting patterns and results. Unlike Season 2, where only a few contestants had PR teams, the show’s current season is teeming with them, mitigating the individual impact of these PR teams.

While the influence of dedicated PR teams has grown over the years, it raises important questions about the authenticity and integrity of reality shows. In a world where what you see may not be the whole truth, it remains crucial for audiences to decipher the narrative and critically assess the influence of PR teams in their favorite shows.– ZURAN (@CriticZuran)