The reality show, Bigg Boss has slowly and gradually grown to be one of the most loved reality shows. Over the years, it has entertained millions of people with its amazing cast and moments filled with drama. But behind the scenes, it is not really that glamorous. A few contestants over different seasons have left the industry in shock with their tragic deaths. A lot of viewers and fans still remember some of those deaths and miss the celebs.
In the past few years, Bigg Boss has lost stars like Sidharth Shukla, Pratyusha Banerjee, Swami Om and most recently, Shefali Jariwala. From tragic life incidents to sudden health crises, each and every death was a heartbreaking one. Fans continue to remember them on their birth and death anniversary. Here is a list of 7 Bigg Boss contestants who passed away.
Bigg Boss 13 winner, Sidharth Shukla’s death shocked the entire nation
One of the most loved contestants and the winner of Bigg Boss 13, Sidharth Shukla was born in 1980, and in 2021, he tragically passed away. He was and is still loved by fans for his strong charming personality and an amazing screen presence. He has given powerful performances in shows and films like, Balika Vadhu, Broken But Beautiful Season 3, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and more. On September 2, 2021, he suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 40. His death shocked almost the entire nation, fans were not ready to believe it. For months after his death, his friend and rumoured girlfriend, Shenaaz was seen devastated and heartbroken.
Pratyusha Banerjee, a young and bright TV star gone too soon
Pratyusha Banerjee first gained recognition for her role in the TV show, Balika Vadhu before entering Bigg Boss 7. Even though she showed her fun and energetic personality on the show, she was evicted in a few weeks. In her career, she was seen in TV shows like Hum Hain Na and Sasural Simar Ka. Apart from that, she also participated in reality shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 5 and Power Couple. On April 1, 2016, at the age of just 24, she died by suicide and post-portem confirmed the cause to be Asphyxia. Her death sparked conversations around her depression, relationship and mental health issues.
The most controversial contestant, Swami Om died during Covid-19
One of the most controversial contestants in the history of Bigg Boss was Swami Om. He appeared in Bigg Boss 10 and was known for his dramatic and erratic behaviour inside the house. He was eventually eliminated from the show, when he allegedly threw urine on a fellow contestant. Even after his weird personality, he gained a decent following. After the show, he continued to generate buzz with his bizarre statements and TV show appearances. In early 2021, he fell sick because of Covid-19 and went through multiple complications. On February 3, 2021, he passed away at the age of 63, leaving behind a dramatic legacy.
The Kaanta Laga fame, Shefali Jariwala’s unexpected death
Shefali Jariwala, commonly known as the ‘Kaanta Laga Girl’ was a popular and a loved figure in the entertainment industry. She participated in Bigg Boss 13 and gained popularity for her confident and graceful personality. Shockingly, on June 27, 2025, she passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 42. Her death left everyone, including fans and people in the industry shocked. She is survived by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, and along with him, she had participated in reality shows like Nach Baliye 5 and Nach Baliye 7.
Politician and Bigg Boss 14 contestant, Sonali Phogat’s sudden death in Goa
Sonali Phogat was a Haryana BJP leader and a wildcard contestant in Bigg Boss 14. She rose to fame through her energetic personality, acting career and social media presence. She was known for her bold action and after participating in Bigg Boss, she contested in the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections. In August 2022, she was vacationing in Goa, when she suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 42. Initially, she had chest pain and was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital but she was declared dead there. Her sudden death left fellow politicians, Bigg Boss viewers and fans in shock.
Kannada actress, Jayashree Ramaiah died due to depression
Jayashree Ramaiah, a Kannada actress gained popularity after appearing on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 3. She had appeared in films like Uppu Huli Khara and Kannad Gothilla. Before the show, she had gone through depression for months. In mid-2020, she had openly expressed suicidal thoughts and later even went to a rehabilitation centre when was unable to cope up. But, in 2021, jayashree tragically committed suicide in Bengaluru at the age of 34. In her last interview, she had spoken about her childhood betrayals, losing trust and mental health problems.
Rising singer, Somadas Chathannoor died after recovering from Covid-19
Somadas Chathannoor had participated in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 2. He was a well known singer and had gained popularity through the singing show, Star Singer. In Bigg Boss, he stayed inside the house for around 15 days before he had to leave due to health problems. In 2021, Somadas recovered from Covid-19 but in no time developed kidney issues. When he was about to be shifted out of the ICU, he suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the age of 42.
The Bigg Boss house has given several memories to contestants and to viewers but for a few contestants, life took an unexpected turn, leaving everyone heartbroken. Even though, stars like Sidharth Shukla, Shefali Jariwala, Pratyusha Banerjee, Sonali Phogat and more are no longer with us, their memories and moments in the Bigg Boss house will always be remembered.
Next Read: Shefali Jariwala’s Final Journey Begins, Husband, Parag Accompanies Mortal Remains For Last Rites
