Bigg Boss Kannada: Here are the profiles of 17 contestants and photos

The fifth season of Bigg Boss Kannada was kicked-off in style on Sunday, 15 October. The launch event was started at 6 and it was a 5-hour event that was loaded with lots of energetic performances from the special guests.

The Bigg Boss 5 Kannada launch event started with Sudeep singing 'Manase manase' song from his Ranga SSLC. Before introducing the contestants of this season one after the other, Kiccha took the viewers into the house to show the complete design of the newly-constructed sets.

The house looks quite bigger than the previous season and posses vibrant colors.

Karunya Ram, Kirik Keerthi, Neha Gowda, Shubra Aiyappa and a few others added colour to the launch event with their performances. 

Contestants
17 contestants – 9 male and 8 female – have entered the house with the hopes of winning Bigg Boss Kannada 5. Predominantly, the show has people from TV and film background. The interesting part of the story is that common man is part of the reality show this season.

6 commoners are taking part in Bigg Boss Kannada along with 11 well-known celebrities. Here, all about the contestants in detail:

Contestant No.1 - Jayasreenivasan

Jayasreenivasan is a popular numerologist, who enjoys a huge fan following. He had visted the house in the third season of Bigg Boss Kannada to predict the fortunes of the inmates. He is the first participant to enter the house this season.

Contestant No. 2 - Megha

She is the first commoner to enter the house with the dialogue - devil is here. She hails from Shanivarsanthe from Kodagu. By her own admission, she is a tomboy and a bold girl, who is studying bachelor of arts.

Contestant No. 3 - Dayal Padmanabhan

Dayal Padmanabhan is a Kannada filmmaker, who has directed 13 movies so far. His upcoming movie Sathya Harishchandra will next Friday. He worked as a junior scientist in Indian Institute of Science before following his passion to work in films. He wanted to become an actor, but ended up as a director. He has acted in a few movies that include Gaalipata in which he was seen in the role named Dracula.

Contestant No. 4 - Sihi Kahi Chandru
Sihi Kahi Chandru is a household name among Kannadigas. He is a well-known name in TV and films. He has produced and directed TV serials and Pa Pa Paandu is his popular work. His wife Sihi Kahi Geetha is also actor and voice-over artist and also their daughter Hitha has started acting in films.

Contestant No. 5 - Shruti Prakash
Shruti Prakash is a singer and actress, who is yet to make her debut in Kannada films. She has acted in Hindi soaps that include Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. She hails from Belagavi, but settled in Mumbai.

Contestant No. 6 - Anupama Gowda
Anupama Gowda came to limelight with Halli Duniya reality show. She has acted in TV serials like Akka Tangi, Akka and Chi Sou Savithri. She made her debut in films with Nagari.

Contestant No. 7 - Riaz Pasha
Riaz Pasha is an RJ, voice-over artist and anchor, who has hosted shows across many languages. He is a Bengalurean, who was also in Mumbai. Interestingly, he had hosted the press meet of Bigg Boss Kannada 1.

Contestant No. 8 - Niveditha Gowda
Niveditha Gowda is a 18-year old girl from Mysuru. He is a commoner, who is known as a dubsmash star. She is the youngest contestant ever to enter the house in this format of the game. She is pursuing BCA.

Contestant No. 9 - Sameer Acharya
Sameer Acharya is the ninth contestant. He is the third commoner to enter the house. He is a priest and a Sanskrit scholar.

Contestant No. 10 - Karthik Jayaram
Karthik Jayaram is popular TV actor, who shot to fame with the role named JK in Ashwini Nakshatra. He has acted in many of Sudeep's films like Kempe Gowda, Only Vishnuvardhana, etc. He turned hero with Just Love.

Contestant No. 11 - Ashita Chandrappa
Ashita Chandrappa is a small-screen actress, who is known for her shows like Neeli and Jothe Jotheyali.

Contestant No. 12 - Diwakar
Diwakar is a common man, who is a salesman by profession. He is from Narasipura and was brought up in Madikeri. He has travelled across the state selling over 50 products.

Contestant No. 13 - Tejaswini Prakash
Tejaswini Prakash is a well-known face among Kannada audience. She has acted in many supporting roles with stars like Shivaraj Kumar, Darshan and Ganesh.

Contestant No. 14: Chandan Shetty
Chandan Shetty is a singer, lyricist and music composer hailing from Hassan district. He was an associate of Arjun Janya. He is turning hero with Vichitra Prema Kathe.

Contestant No. 15: Maharani Sumithra Devi aka Suma Rajkumar
Maharani Sumithra Devi aka Suma Rajkumar is the 15th contestant. She is a commoner and housewive hailing from Mysuru.

Contestant No. 16: Jagan
Jagan aka Jagannath has acted in Kannada serials and hosted shows that include Dancing Star last season.

Contestant No. 17: Krishi Thapanda
Krishi Thapanda is a model and actress, who made her debut with Kannada film Akira. She is also working on Alpavirama.

Here, we bring to you the live updates of the show:

Live updates:
11.30 pm: All the 17 contestants have now entered the house. 
 11.00 pm: TV actor Jagan and actress Krishi Thapanda are 16th and 17th contestants.
 10.53 pm: Suma Rajkumar is the fifth contestant. She is a commoner.
 10.35 pm: Rapper Chandan Shetty is the 14th contestant.
 10.30 pm: Aindrita Ray entertains guests with her performance.
 10.25 pm: Tejaswini Prakash's is the 13th contestant
 10.15 pm: Ex-Bigg Boss contestant Karunya Ram thrills the viewers with her performance.
 10.05 pm: A salesman named Diwakar has entered the show as the 12th contestant.
 9.59 pm: Ashita Chandrappa is the contestant number 11 in Sudeep-hosted show
 9.45 pm: Karthik Jayaram is the 10th contestant to enter the house.
 9.25 pm: Sameer Acharya is the ninth contestant. He is the third commoner to enter the house.
 8.58 pm: Niveditha Gowda is a 18-year old girl from Mysuru. He is commoner, who has earned some popularity through dubsmash.
 8.43 pm: RJ Riaz Pasha is the seventh contestant. He is a multilingual anchor.
 8.41 pm: Kirik Keerthi, the runner-up of last season, performs for 'Simha' track.
 8.32 pm: Anupama Gowda is the sixth contestant to enter the house.
 8.20 pm: Neha Gowda of Lakshmi Baramma and Anupama from Akka perform on stage.
 7.55 pm: Shruti Prakash, who has acted in Hindi serials like Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, is the fifth contestant.
 7.41 pm: Sihi Kahi Chandru is the fourth contestant to enter the house.
 7.30 pm: Hitha Chandrashekhar entertains the guest with her performance.
 7.04 pm: Filmmaker Dayal Padmanabhan is the third contestant to enter the house. His next movie Sathya Harishchandra starring Sharan is releasing next week.
 7.00 pm: Well-known TV and film actor Naveen Krishna performs on stage.
 6.46 pm: The entry of the first commoner - Megha from Kodagu.
 6.38 pm: Shubra Aiyappa performs on stage and paves way for the entry of second contestant.
 6.30 pm: Jayasreenivasan talks to Bigg Boss in the confession room. He is told to tell his first views to the every contestant who is part of the show.
 6.25 pm: Jayasreenivasan enters the house.
 6.13 pm: Numerologist Jayasreenivasan is the first contestant.
6.10 pm: The house looks much bigger than the previous seasons.
 6.05 pm: The set looks grand and colourful. Sudeep takes us into the house.
6.00 pm: The moment lakh the fans are waiting is finally here. Sudeep enters the show with 'Manase manase' song and he himself sings it.

Earlier Updates

The fifth season of Bigg Boss Kannada will be launched on Sunday, 15 October. The event will telecast from 6 pm on Colors Super. As many as 17 contestants will be part of the Kannada reality show. The channel has allowed 6 commoners to join along with 11 celebrities, the names of whom will be revealed during the launch.
 According to sources, there are nine male contestants and eight female contestants. A Mumbai-based actress is also taking part this season.

The channel has been tight-lipped about the contestants, yet many names have been doing rounds.

Sihi Kahi Chandru, Vijayalakshmi, Rapper Chandan Shetty, Anuradha Bhat, Supriya Lohith, RJ Riaz Pasha, Varshini Kusuma, Kavitha Gowda, Rajesh Nataranga, Sunil Raoh, Pankaj Narayan, Raju Thalikote, Muruli of Oggarane Dabbi fame, Rajeev (CCL), Shine Shetty, Sriki and Harsha are said to have been approached.

"Bigg Boss Kannada manages to surprise me every season with the innovations in the concept and introduction of numerous entertainment avenues, not only for the housemates and viewers of the show but also for myself. The inclusion of the common man into the house, revolutionizes the format of the game, with even more unpredictability," Sudeep stated in a press release.

He adds, "I am delighted to have been a part of this journey from the onset. For the fifth season in a row, I am still as excited as I was in the first, with season 5 getting bigger, better and even more entertaining for everyone."