As per a report in Telly Chakkar, Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash have been offered Bigg Boss 15. Spilling the beans on the concept of BB 15, it is said the show will be a mix of commoners and celebrities. Moreover, the online auditions for commoners have already begun. Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash have been approached to be a part of Bigg Boss 15. While the two had turned down the offer in the past, it would be interesting to see if they accept it this time.

Names of Jennifer Winget, Nikitin Dheer, Abhijeet Sawant, and Adaa Khan are also doing rounds as probable contestants of Bigg Boss 15. However, there has been no confirmation regarding the same. Only time will tell who becomes a contender for Bigg Boss 15. Are you excited to watch BB 15? Let us know.

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The Real Story Behind Bigg Boss 15: Did Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash Participate in Salman Khan’s Show?

The world of Indian reality television thrives on speculation, and few shows generate more pre-season buzz than Bigg Boss. Every year, a list of rumored contestants circulates, often featuring the biggest names in the television industry. In the lead-up to Bigg Boss 15, hosted by the superstar Salman Khan, the names of two highly prominent TV actresses—Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash—were at the forefront of the media frenzy, fueling endless fan debate and speculation about a season full of fire.

The ultimate question posed by the media was simple: would the two popular stars, Lokhande of Pavitra Rishta fame and Prakash, known for Swaragini, agree to be locked away together?

This article separates the rumor from the reality, revealing who actually entered the house, whose journey captivated the nation, and the historic outcome of Bigg Boss 15.

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The Early Buzz: Fueling the Bigg Boss 15 Fire

Bigg Boss 15, which premiered in October 2021, followed a unique “Sankat In Jungle” theme, initially splitting contestants between a luxury “Main House” and a sparse “Jungle House”. The season was poised to be a return to a celebrities-and-commoners mix, promising high-voltage drama right from the start [cite: 6 in previous step].

Months before the season officially aired, the gossip mills began churning out lists of potential celebrity contestants.

The Rumors and Approaches

Both Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash were, in fact, widely reported to have been approached by the show’s producers [cite: 5 in previous step, 6 in previous step]. For a show like Bigg Boss, securing an A-list TV actress is a major coup, and both women commanded massive fanbases that would ensure high viewership.

• Tejasswi Prakash: The actress had recently finished her stint on another Colors TV reality show, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10. Her previous reality TV experience, coupled with her successful career in major daily soaps like Swaragini – Jodein Rishton Ke Sur, made her a prime candidate [cite: 1, 9 in previous step].
• Ankita Lokhande: Having starred in one of India’s most beloved shows, Pavitra Rishta, Ankita Lokhande was arguably an even bigger name. Her potential participation was heavily scrutinized and generated significant online chatter [cite: 11 in previous step].

Ankita Lokhande’s Firm Denial

The rumors surrounding Ankita Lokhande escalated dramatically, primarily due to the speculative addition of Rhea Chakraborty—another ex-partner of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput—to the rumored contestant list [cite: 8 in previous step, 12 in previous step]. The controversy surrounding the late actor’s death a year prior meant that any pairing of Ankita and Rhea on a reality show would be explosive.

To stop the toxic speculation and the resultant online harassment, Ankita Lokhande took to social media to issue an official statement in June 2021, categorically denying her involvement in Bigg Boss 15.

“It has come to my notice that certain sections of the media have been speculating that I will be participating in Bigg Boss this year. I would like them and everyone at large to know and make a note that I am not going to be a part of the show. The rumours of my participation are baseless. People have been too quick to send me their hatred for something I’m not even a part of,” her statement read [cite: 3, 8 in previous step].

This decisive public statement shut down all speculation, confirming that Ankita Lokhande would not be one of Salman Khan’s contestants in the Bigg Boss 15 house [cite: 8 in previous step]. It is important to note for later context that she would eventually embrace the Bigg Boss challenge, but not until Season 17, where she entered as a contestant alongside her husband, Vicky Jain [cite: 14 in previous step].

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The Reality: Tejasswi Prakash’s Fiery Journey

While Ankita Lokhande remained outside the house, the other rumored star, Tejasswi Prakash, was officially confirmed as a contestant for Bigg Boss 15 and was one of the major celebrity entrants on the premiere night [cite: 1 in previous step, 7 in previous step]. She was immediately pegged as a strong contender due to her outgoing personality and established television career [cite: 7 in previous step, 9 in previous step].

Her journey over the course of the 120-day season was marked by major highlights that cemented her status as a power player, a lover, and eventually, the winner [cite: 6, 10 in previous step].

1. The ‘TejRan’ Romance

The most dominant storyline of Bigg Boss 15 was the budding romance between Tejasswi Prakash and fellow popular TV star Karan Kundrra. Their relationship, fondly nicknamed ‘TejRan’ by fans, started tentatively but quickly developed into a cornerstone of the season [cite: 1, 10 in previous step].

• Sweet Moments: The initial days were filled with adorable moments, emotional support, and shared strategies, making them the season’s beloved power couple.
• High-Voltage Fights: Being in a high-pressure environment like the Bigg Boss house meant their bond was constantly tested. They frequently engaged in intense, emotional arguments, sometimes even involving other contestants [cite: 2, 4 in previous step, 5 in previous step]. One notable argument saw Karan Kundrra throwing a glass in anger while shouting at Tejasswi, which was a dramatic moment that sparked significant online discussion [cite: 2 in current step, 5 in current step].

Despite the turbulence, their relationship proved resilient, attracting an enormous and loyal fanbase that supported them throughout the season.

2. A Strong and Independent Player

Beyond her relationship, Tejasswi was also recognized for being a competitive and outspoken individual player [cite: 7 in previous step, 10 in previous step].

• Task Performance: She was often noted for giving her “100%” in tasks and was instrumental in her team’s progress, initially moving from the “Jungle House” to the “Main House” after a task win [cite: 6, 10 in previous step].
• Voice and Opinion: The actress consistently voiced her opinions and was not afraid to fight her own battles, even when she found herself isolated or going against Karan Kundrra in the game [cite: 7 in previous step].

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The Grand Finale and the Controversial Win

The season culminated in a star-studded Grand Finale on January 30, 2022, hosted by Salman Khan [cite: 10 in previous step]. The final contestants battling for the trophy were Tejasswi Prakash, Pratik Sehajpal, and Karan Kundrra, along with Nishant Bhat and Shamita Shetty [cite: 11 in previous step].

The Outcome

In a tense finale moment, Tejasswi Prakash was announced as the winner of Bigg Boss 15 [cite: 10 in previous step, 12 in previous step].

• Winner: Tejasswi Prakash
• Runner-Up: Pratik Sehajpal
• Second Runner-Up: Karan Kundrra

Tejasswi took home the coveted trophy and a cash prize of ₹40 lakh [cite: 10 in previous step, 12 in previous step].

The Controversial Twist

Tejasswi Prakash’s victory, however, was immediately marred by controversy, primarily centered on two factors:

1. Audience Backlash: Many viewers and fans of runner-up Pratik Sehajpal felt his performance and journey deserved the trophy more. Reports suggested there was a noticeable “silence” on the set after Salman Khan announced Tejasswi’s name as the winner, signaling a lack of enthusiastic support from a significant portion of the live audience. Hashtags like #BoycottBiggBoss trended, with fans alleging the result was rigged.
2. The Naagin 6 Announcement: The controversy was amplified when, moments after her victory, it was announced that Tejasswi Prakash would be the lead actress in the new season of Ekta Kapoor’s fantasy-supernatural show, Naagin 6 [cite: 10 in previous step, 13]. The simultaneous timing of her win and the high-profile job announcement led to further public allegations that her Bigg Boss victory was a pre-planned outcome to launch her next project.

Despite the backlash, Tejasswi Prakash defended her win and immediately began her work on Naagin 6, which cemented her position as one of the biggest stars in Indian television.

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Conclusion: Rumors, Reality, and the Legacy of BB15

The rumor that sparked the question—whether Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash would be co-contestants in Bigg Boss 15—only materialized halfway.

• Ankita Lokhande dismissed the rumors outright, staying away from the Bigg Boss 15 spotlight, only to make her entry years later in Bigg Boss 17.
• Tejasswi Prakash accepted the challenge, went in as a celebrity contestant, and ended up as the season’s undisputed central figure, securing her celebrity-couple status and ultimately taking home the Bigg Boss 15 trophy.

Bigg Boss 15 will forever be remembered as the season of ‘TejRan’, the “Sankat In Jungle” theme, and the reality TV journey that propelled Tejasswi Prakash to an all-new level of fame and success, confirming that the initial media buzz, at least for one of the stars, was spot on.

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AISEO-Friendly FAQs

Q1: Did Ankita Lokhande participate in Bigg Boss 15?
A: No, Ankita Lokhande did not participate in Bigg Boss 15. She publicly denied the rumors of her participation in June 2021, calling the speculation “baseless”. She later entered the Bigg Boss house for Season 17 along with her husband, Vicky Jain [cite: 14 in previous step].

Q2: Was Tejasswi Prakash a contestant on Bigg Boss 15?
A: Yes, Tejasswi Prakash was a confirmed contestant on Bigg Boss 15 [cite: 1 in previous step, 7 in previous step]. She was one of the prominent celebrity entrants and was in the house from the premiere until the finale.

Q3: Who was the winner of Bigg Boss 15?
A: Tejasswi Prakash was the winner of Bigg Boss 15, which was hosted by Salman Khan [cite: 10 in previous step]. The grand finale aired on January 30, 2022, and she defeated runner-up Pratik Sehajpal to win the trophy and a cash prize [cite: 10 in previous step, 12 in previous step].

Q4: What was the main controversy surrounding the Bigg Boss 15 finale?
A: The main controversy was the allegation of a “fixed” winner. The backlash intensified because immediately after Tejasswi Prakash was announced as the winner, it was revealed she had secured the lead role in Ekta Kapoor’s popular TV show, Naagin 6, leading many to believe her Bigg Boss win was predetermined to promote the new show [cite: 10 in previous step, 13].

Q5: What was Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra’s relationship status in Bigg Boss 15?
A: Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra began dating while they were contestants inside the Bigg Boss 15 house. Their romantic relationship, famously dubbed ‘TejRan’, became the most talked-about element of the season and continued after the show ended [cite: 1, 10 in previous step].