Rhiya Ahir has revealed that she was initially unsure about participating in Bigg Boss 20, despite being offered an opportunity to appear on Salman Khan’s reality show. The actor and model said concerns about the public image associated with her recent rise to prominence made her think carefully before accepting the opportunity.
Rhiya became widely known after a video from a student protest in Mumbai circulated online. Her appearance at the protest subsequently brought her considerable attention on social media and placed her in the public spotlight.
Her possible participation in Bigg Boss 20 has since generated both support and criticism. Rhiya has now explained that entering the reality show was not an immediate decision and that conversations with her father and the show’s production team eventually helped her make up her mind.
Rhiya Ahir Says She Was Hesitant About Bigg Boss 20
Before agreeing to participate, Rhiya said she was concerned about the expectations that could come with the visibility she had gained.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleSpeaking to Screen, she said she was initially reluctant to accept the Bigg Boss opportunity because of the image that had developed around her.
“Honestly, I was reluctant to join Bigg Boss when the offer came, because of the image that has been created. I have responsibilities that come with it. And I don’t want to let anyone down.”
Rhiya explained that she feels particularly conscious about younger people who may be watching her journey.
She described herself as someone who does not want to disappoint others and said she wants to be careful about the example she sets.
“Little kids are looking up to me. So, I don’t want to misguide anyone in their lives.”
Her Father Encouraged Her to Consider the Offer
Rhiya said her father played an important role in helping her decide whether to explore the opportunity.
According to the actor, her father advised her to at least have a conversation with the channel and production team before making a final decision.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleThat meeting eventually changed her perspective.
Rhiya recalled that one particular assurance from the production team stayed with her and helped her feel more comfortable about the possibility of entering the show.
“Nobody’s forcing you to abuse. Nobody’s forcing you to yell. How you react is up to you.”
For Rhiya, the statement reinforced the idea that her behaviour inside the Bigg Boss house would ultimately be her own responsibility.
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Add Hunterfly on Google‘This Is My Job’
Rhiya also addressed the criticism that her interest in Bigg Boss was motivated primarily by fame.
She questioned why accepting an entertainment opportunity should automatically be viewed as an attempt to exploit her newfound public attention.
“If I get the opportunity, I am very happy, and when people say that, she did this for fame. Why don’t you do it then? Who’s stopping you?”
The actor said she believes she was approached because of her straightforward personality and willingness to express her views.
She added that she prefers to distinguish between what she believes is right and wrong rather than simply following popular opinion.
Rhiya Wants Viewers to Judge Her for Themselves
Rhiya said she sees Bigg Boss as an opportunity to allow viewers to form their own opinions about her.
Rather than responding to different narratives circulating online, she wants audiences to watch her behaviour on the programme and make their own assessment.
“This is my way of telling people: ‘Don’t believe any narrative. Believe what you see.’”
She also reiterated that she had not earned money from the circumstances surrounding her sudden rise in visibility, while stressing that participating in Bigg Boss would be part of her professional career.
Rhiya Ahir and ‘Fans Ka Faisla’
Before the show’s premiere, Salman Khan introduced Fans Ka Faisla, a format that gave viewers the opportunity to choose between Rhiya Ahir and Punjabi actor-model Love Gill for a potential place in the Bigg Boss 20 house.
The voting process turned their possible participation into a viewer-driven decision.
Rhiya said she has received messages from supporters, including people from Punjab, who told her they were voting for her.
The outcome was scheduled to be revealed during the Bigg Boss 20 premiere.
Who Is Rhiya Ahir?
Rhiya Ahir is a Mumbai-based model, actor and entrepreneur who recently attracted widespread attention following footage from a student protest in Mumbai.
A viral video showing her standing in front of a police vehicle carrying detained protesters became a major talking point online.
The incident brought Rhiya a much larger social-media audience and made her a recognisable face beyond her earlier modelling and acting work.
Her subsequent association with Bigg Boss 20 has expanded that public interest, while also prompting questions about how she will navigate the transition from protest-related visibility to mainstream entertainment.
When and Where to Watch Bigg Boss 20
Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, 2026.
The season is hosted by Salman Khan and is available through JioHotstar, while the television broadcast airs on Colors TV.
Rhiya’s potential participation has become one of the talking points surrounding the new season, particularly because of the unusual route through which she came into the Bigg Boss conversation.
