Bigg Boss Double Trouble: All you need to know about the contestants of season 9

Any Bigg Boss season has a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces, and the 9th season of Bigg Boss is no different. This year’s show is called Bigg Boss Double Trouble, and apart from the regulars (an over enthusiastic Salman Khan, a dramatic entry and an even more dramatic premiere episode) we were introduced to the 14 new contestants on Sunday night. All contestants have been asked to choose a partner, with which they have been chained to. So before we embark on the roller-coaster ride that is Bigg Boss (the premiere episode saw each contestant has been paired with another member) here’s a complete list of all the contestants and their claim to fame: Mandana Karimi [caption id=“attachment_2465646” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN live.[/caption] This Iranian model-actress is probably best known from her snippet in the Arjun Rampal-Ranbir Kapoor starrer Roy. She made her Bollywood debut with Bhaag Johnny and will also be seen in Balaji Films’ Kya Kool Hai Hum 3. But forget the deets, she’s already been touted as the hottest member of this year’s show.

Mandana Karimi makes all the other girls in the house look mediocre. #BB9

— Bollywood UK (@bollywooduk) October 11, 2015

Mandana Karimi - proving women from Iran are hot, as always 😂

— Zenia Irani (@ZeniaIrani) October 11, 2015

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  Kishwar Merchant [caption id=“attachment_2465650” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN live.[/caption] We all remember Kishwar Merchant from her role in Hip Hip Hurray. She has, however, been an active actress on television since the 90s, and has also starred in Bheja Fry 2. She’s also dating a co-contestant from the show (Suyyash Rai), so it should be very interesting to see how that pans out. Prince Narula [caption id=“attachment_2465652” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] Make way for the resident reality show star, Prince Narula. Having won this year’s Roadies and participated in Splitsvilla, he is now at his biggest reality show pit-stop. He’s a true-blue Chandigarh boy (by which we mean big biceps, bigger Punjabi). Aman Varma [caption id=“attachment_2465654” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from Facebook.[/caption] Isn’t it fun to see a familiar (albeit aged) face on a reality show? We’ve been seeing Aman Varma on the small screen for years now, as an actor and a TV show host. From Harpic ads, to a role in KRK’s Deshdrohi, he’s done it all. (Including a sting operation) Yuvika Choudhary [caption id=“attachment_2465660” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] A former reality show stint and a blink-and-you-miss role in Om Shanti Om - sounds like the perfect combination for a Bigg Boss contestant right? Yuvika Choudhary made her foray into the industry through Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj. She also let go of a role in Lage Raho MunnaBhai. Ouch. Suyyash Rai [caption id=“attachment_2465668” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from Facebook.[/caption] Known for his roles in Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahaani and Badtameez Dil, Suyyash Rai makes his entry into Bigg Boss alongside Kishwar Merchant as a couple. Although paired with other people (Rai is paired with Rimi Sen and Merchant is paired with Aman Varma) the duo wants to be known as the ideal couple on the show. Ankit Gera [caption id=“attachment_2465670” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] Fun fact. TV actor Ankit Gera won the Star Parivar Award for the Favorite Bhai. Possibly one of the reasons why he was chosen to come on Bigg Boss with Salman? Jokes apart, Gera’s claim to fame is his role in the TV show Mahi Way. Rimi Sen [caption id=“attachment_2465672” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from PTI.[/caption] The Dhoom girl Rimi Sen fills in the shoes of the has-been Bollywood actress (read: Minnisha Lamba, Shamita Shetty, Tannisha Mukherji). Possibly the most known face on the show, Sen has been missing in action for a while now. She however claims that she took up the show to reconnect with fans as she’s planning to direct a film soon. Rochelle Rao [caption id=“attachment_2465676” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN live.[/caption] Crowned Miss India-International in 2012, Rochelle Rao rose to fame as the anchor of Extraaa Innings and then subsequently she also participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. Before entering the show, she confirmed her relationship with fellow contestant Keith Sequiera. Digangana Suryavanshi [caption id=“attachment_2465680” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] If you google Digangana Suryavanshi, the first two results that pop up are about her age and accent. And that’s much all that was spoken about on the show about her. Suryavanshi is youngest contestant on the show (she’s 17) and she’s acted in shows like Ek Veer Ki Ardaas….Veera, but is known more for her long hair and her tantrums. Vikas Bhalla [caption id=“attachment_2465686” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] Vikas Bhalla may just be known more for the things he does off screen than one screen. While he has acted in shows like Uttaran and Shanno Ki Shaadi, he is perhaps best known for his indi-pop album Awara and the song Hai Dhuan. He also sang the song ‘Po po po po po’ from Son of Sardaar and is known to have a friendship with Salman Khan. Fun fact: he’s married to Prem Chopra’s daughter. Roopal Tyagi [caption id=“attachment_2465690” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from Facebook.[/caption] Roopal Tyagi is a choreohrapher turned actor, and has already participated in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Dance India Dance previously. She is co-contestant Ankit Gera’s ex, but claims to not care too much about that. Fun fact: She has choreographed the famous Bhool Bhulaiyaa song ‘Mera Dholna’. Keith Sequeira [caption id=“attachment_2465692” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN live.[/caption] Former model and VJ, Keith Sequiera was last seen in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Calendar Girls. There were many rumours about his relationship with Rochelle Rao, but the couple took the Facebook to confirm their relationship. With two couples already in the house, it will be very intriguing to see how the relationships pan out. Arvind Vegda [caption id=“attachment_2465696” align=“alignnone” width=“500”]  Image from IBN Live.[/caption] Arvind Vegda is almost the male Falguni Pathak. A Gujarati singer/performer, Vegda is a Garba favorite. His most popular song is called ‘Bhai Bhai’ and it has over 2 million views on Youtube. That can’t be a coincidence.