Rriya Ahir, who gained widespread attention after a video from the CJP student protests in Mumbai went viral, has addressed criticism surrounding her potential entry into Bigg Boss 20. The aspiring actor and model says she is not trying to profit from the attention she received and instead wants to use the opportunity to move forward in her career.
Rriya is currently competing against Punjabi actor-model Love Gill through the show’s Fans Ka Faisla segment, a voting-based process through which viewers decide who gets an opportunity to enter the Bigg Boss house.
Her possible participation has generated considerable discussion online, with some questioning whether the reality show represents an attempt to capitalise on her sudden public visibility.
Speaking exclusively to News18, Rriya rejected that interpretation and explained why she believes accepting the opportunity is a natural step for someone trying to build a career in entertainment.
Rriya Ahir Says She Is Making the Most of the Opportunity
Rriya said she wants to make the best possible use of opportunities that have come her way following the viral moment.
“I’m trying to make the best use of whatever is coming my way. I’m not taking any advantage of the attention I got.”
She compared the opportunity to receiving unexpected help at a difficult moment, arguing that turning it down would not make sense when she is trying to establish herself in acting and modelling.
Rriya also questioned how she could be accused of manipulating the situation when, according to her, she did not lie to anyone or manufacture the circumstances surrounding the protest.
‘Turning Up for the Protest Was My Dharm’
Addressing criticism that her participation in the student protest was motivated by a desire for attention, Rriya said that she considered her presence there a personal responsibility.
“Turning up for the protest was my dharm. I’m not an activist. This was the first protest that I was a part of.”
She added that she had focused on doing what she believed was right at the time rather than thinking about what might come from it later.
Rriya used the Hindi phrase “Maine bas apna karam kiya hai, phal ki chinta nahi kiya” to describe her approach, saying that if an opportunity has emerged as a result, she sees no reason to reject it.
Why Rriya Wants to Enter Bigg Boss 20
For Rriya, the appeal of Bigg Boss goes beyond simply becoming part of a popular television programme.
She believes that appearing on a reality show would allow viewers to see her personality directly rather than forming opinions about her based solely on a viral clip.
“And a reality show is the best way for people to see my reality. They haven’t forced me to use cuss words. Main jaise react karungi, bas woh hi saamne aayega.”
According to Rriya, the experience could also provide momentum to her ambitions in acting and modelling.
Rriya Says Students She Supported Are Now Supporting Her
One of the criticisms directed at Rriya was that her involvement in the student protests was allegedly intended to generate social-media attention.
She strongly disagreed with that narrative.
Rriya said that some of the students she supported during the protests are now encouraging her to secure a place in the Bigg Boss house.
“I stood up for those students and now they’re standing up for me. I’ve been getting so many messages from them.”
She claimed that students have sent her messages expressing their desire to see her participate in the show and potentially represent their experiences inside the house.
‘I’ll Get to Represent My Community’
Rriya also sees a potential Bigg Boss appearance as a chance to connect with a younger audience.
She argued that her participation could give a particular demographic a representative inside the reality-show environment.
“They want to see me inside the Bigg Boss house. They’re writing to me, ‘We want to see you, sister. We want someone to represent us inside the house.’”
She further said that she would encourage people who currently criticise her to watch the programme and form an opinion after seeing her personality in a different setting.
Rriya Denies Monetising Her Viral Moment
Rriya also addressed claims circulating online about her allegedly earning money from the attention generated by her viral protest video.
She rejected those claims and said she had not deliberately monetised the incident.
“Over the course of the past one month, maine kisi se na paisa liya hai, na diya hai. People are saying that I’m earning Rs 18 lakh through subscriptions. Where’s that money? I haven’t monetised my viral moment.”
Rriya said monetising the viral attention had not even occurred to her and questioned how long she would be expected to continue defending herself against different accusations.
Her comments were specifically directed at the criticism surrounding her possible Bigg Boss participation and the suggestion that she had deliberately turned the protest into a source of income.
Rriya Ahir and the Bigg Boss 20 Opportunity
Rriya’s potential entry comes after she became widely recognised online following footage from the CJP student protests in Mumbai.
The sudden attention has brought opportunities in the entertainment space, but it has also generated questions about her motivations.
Her response is that she does not view accepting an opportunity as exploiting the circumstances that brought her public attention.
Instead, she sees Bigg Boss 20 as a platform through which audiences can get to know her beyond a single viral image or video.
Fans Will Decide Her Bigg Boss 20 Fate
Rriya’s participation in Fans Ka Faisla means her entry into the house is not yet solely in her hands.
Viewers will have a role in determining whether she gets the opportunity to become a Bigg Boss 20 contestant.
Her competition with Love Gill has therefore added another layer to the ongoing discussion surrounding her possible entry.
For now, Rriya remains focused on convincing viewers that there is more to her than the viral moment that first brought her into the spotlight.
Whether she ultimately enters the Bigg Boss 20 house will depend on the outcome of the show’s voting process.
