The nineteenth season of Bigg Boss, hosted by Salman Khan, has been a major talking point in Indian television since its premiere in August 2025. With the theme “Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar” (Housemates’ Government), the show promised a mix of political strategy and entertainment. As the season approaches its Grand Finale on December 7, 2025, a significant event has shaken the show’s momentum. The sudden mid-week eviction of popular YouTuber Mridul Tiwari has sparked a massive debate online, leading to speculation about the show’s television ratings (TRP).
Mridul Tiwari, who entered the house after winning the “Fans Ka Faisla” public vote, was considered a strong contender for the trophy. His exit came not through a standard public vote but via a special “Live Audience” task. This decision led to immediate backlash on social media, with trends like #NoMridulNoBiggBoss dominating platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Now that the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has released the data for Week 46, we can look at the actual numbers to see if this online anger translated into a drop in television viewership.
The Shocking Mid-Week Eviction: How it Happened
The event that caused this shift in viewership occurred during the twelfth week of the show. Unlike the usual “Weekend Ka Vaar” episodes where the host Salman Khan announces the elimination based on public votes received throughout the week, this eviction happened on a Wednesday. The makers introduced a twist involving a “Live Audience” segment.
For this task, a group of approximately 50 to 60 people entered the Bigg Boss house to act as voters for a Captaincy Task. The housemates were divided into teams and had to convince this live audience that they deserved to be the next Captain or a finalist. The contestants gave speeches and performed to entertain the visitors.
After the performances, a secret ballot was held. The results were mixed for the housemates. Popular television actor Gaurav Khanna and wildcard entrant Shehbaz Badesha received the highest number of votes from the live audience, securing their safety and moving closer to captaincy. However, Mridul Tiwari received the lowest number of votes—reportedly only four votes from the entire group.
Bigg Boss announced that the contestant with the least support from the live audience would be eliminated immediately. This resulted in Mridul leaving the house instantly, bypassing the millions of fans who vote through the JioCinema app. This method of elimination is often used in the final weeks of the show to shock the contestants, but it is rarely well-received by the voting public.
TRP Analysis: Week 46 vs. Previous Weeks
Television Rating Points (TRP) are the primary metric used to judge the success of a television show in India. For Bigg Boss, ratings typically increase as the show nears its finale, as casual viewers tune in to see who will win. However, the data for Bigg Boss 19 shows a different trend following the eviction.
The Peak in Week 43
In late October, around Week 43, the show was performing well. It had entered the “Top 10” list of most-watched Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) shows. During this period, the TRP was recorded at 1.5. This is a strong number for the 10:30 PM time slot on Colors TV, indicating that the drama and tasks were engaging the audience.
The Decline in Week 46
The BARC report for Week 46, which covers the days immediately following Mridul Tiwari’s exit, shows a slight decline. The show’s rating dropped to 1.4. While a drop of 0.1 may look small on paper, it represents a significant stagnation at a time when the show should be growing.
Usually, reality shows aim to reach ratings of 1.7 or 1.8 in the semi-finale weeks. The drop to 1.4 suggests that a section of the audience may have stopped watching the nightly episodes on television after their favorite contestant was removed. This data supports the theory that the “boycott” calls on social media had a real-world effect on the linear television viewership.
Audience Reaction and Boycott Trends
The reaction on the internet was swift and largely negative. Viewers who had supported Mridul since the beginning of the season felt that the eviction process was unfair. The primary complaint was that a “YouTuber” contestant relies on mass public support, which was nullified by restricting the vote to a small group of people inside the house.
Hashtags such as #NoMridulNoBiggBoss and #RiggedBiggBoss trended for several days. Fans shared screenshots of themselves cancelling their subscriptions to the streaming platform and switching off the TV channel. Many comments on social media platforms pointed out that Mridul was a “genuine” player who did not engage in unnecessary fights, which made him relatable to the common man.
Critics of the show argued that the makers manipulate evictions to protect specific contestants, often referred to as “channel faces” (actors who work for the channel’s serials). Whether these claims are true or not, the negative sentiment created a cloud over the show’s narrative leading into the finale week.
Mridul Tiwari’s Journey in Season 19
To understand the impact of his exit, it is important to look at Mridul Tiwari’s journey. He is a well-known YouTuber with a large following in North India. Before the season started, the makers held a contest called “Fans Ka Faisla” (Fans’ Decision), where Mridul competed against Shehbaz Badesha for a spot in the house. Mridul won this vote by a large margin, proving his popularity early on.
Inside the house, Mridul was known for his calm demeanor. He formed a close friendship with actor Gaurav Khanna, and their bond was a highlight for many viewers. Unlike other contestants who sought camera time through aggression, Mridul was often seen as a peacemaker.
However, he also faced criticism. Host Salman Khan often reprimanded him during “Weekend Ka Vaar” episodes for being too silent or for not taking a strong enough stand on issues. Despite this, he survived multiple public vote nominations, proving that his fan base was active and loyal. His eviction by a non-public vote broke the unwritten contract between a reality show and its voting audience.
Changes in House Dynamics Post-Eviction
The departure of a key housemate changes the energy of the show. After Mridul left, the house dynamic shifted noticeably.
- Emotional Impact on Gaurav Khanna: Gaurav, who is one of the top contenders for the win, was deeply affected. He was seen crying and expressing guilt over not being able to save his friend. This added a layer of gloom to the episodes following the eviction.
- Lack of Balance: Mridul often acted as a buffer between aggressive contestants like Farrhana Bhatt and the rest of the house. Without him, arguments became more chaotic and less resolved.
- Focus on the “Top 5”: The narrative quickly shifted to the remaining strong players, specifically Amaal Mallik and Gaurav Khanna. The editors began focusing more on their rivalry, attempting to fill the void left by Mridul.
Weekly TRP Trends Data
| Week Number | Timeline | Major Event | TRP Rating | Trend Analysis |
| Week 42 | Mid-October | Wildcard Entries | 1.3 | Rising |
| Week 43 | Late October | Diwali Special | 1.5 | Peak |
| Week 44 | Early November | Ticket to Finale Tasks | 1.5 | Stable |
| Week 45 | Mid-November | Standard Nominations | 1.4 | Slight Dip |
| Week 46 | Eviction Week | Mridul Tiwari Evicted | 1.4 | Stagnant/Low |
OTT vs. TV: The Digital Impact
It is important to note that Bigg Boss is consumed on two different platforms: linear television (Colors TV) and digital streaming (JioCinema). The TRP ratings only reflect the television audience.
While the TV ratings stagnated at 1.4, the digital viewership likely saw a different pattern. Often, when a controversy occurs, digital engagement (comments, shares, clips) increases, even if long-form viewership drops. However, the “boycott” trend suggests that even the digital watch time might have suffered.
YouTuber contestants bring a massive digital audience that does not necessarily watch traditional TV. When the YouTuber is evicted, this specific demographic stops watching the show entirely, which hurts the streaming numbers more than the TV TRP. This explains why the online buzz turned so negative so quickly.
Also Read: Bigg Boss 19 TRP This Week (30 November 2025): Latest Ratings, Viewership & Comparison
The Final Race: Remaining Contestants
With Mridul out of the picture, the path to the trophy has become clearer for the remaining housemates. The Grand Finale is scheduled for December 7, 2025.
The current frontrunners are:
- Gaurav Khanna: The popular actor is the first confirmed finalist. He has a strong TV fan base.
- Amaal Mallik: The Bollywood singer and composer has played a dignified game and is seen as a potential winner.
- Shehbaz Badesha: Despite being a wildcard, his entertaining personality and connection to Shehnaaz Gill keep him relevant.
- Ashnoor Kaur: A strong female contestant who has performed well in tasks.
The competition is now largely seen as a battle between the television audience (supporting Gaurav) and the general neutral audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mridul was evicted because he received the lowest number of votes from a “live audience” group that entered the house for a captaincy task. He was not evicted based on the standard public voting process.
As of Week 46 (mid-November 2025), the TRP of Bigg Boss 19 is 1.4. This is a slight decrease from its peak of 1.5 in Week 43.
Many fans on social media have alleged that the show is rigged because the eviction process bypassed the public vote. However, the makers maintain that twists and tasks are a standard part of the reality show format.
The Grand Finale of Bigg Boss Season 19 will be telecast on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
No, Mridul Tiwari has not returned as a contestant. He returned to his hometown in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, where he received a grand welcome from his fans.
Conclusion
The mid-week eviction of Mridul Tiwari from Bigg Boss 19 was a turning point for the season. While the show has maintained a moderate viewership with a TRP of 1.4, it failed to see the pre-finale surge that is typical for the franchise. The data indicates that alienating the digital fan base of a YouTuber contestant can have a measurable negative impact on viewership ratings.
As the show heads into its final week, the makers will rely on the remaining popular faces like Gaurav Khanna and Amaal Mallik to hold the audience’s attention. Whether the ratings will recover for the Grand Finale remains to be seen, but the controversy surrounding Mridul’s exit will likely be remembered as one of the defining moments of Season 19.
