Qazi Tauqeer is removed from the captaincy race by Kanika Mann’s Vardaan, only to be made sanchalak of the birthday cake task that decides the final contenders

Mumbai: The twentieth season of India’s popular reality show has started with high-voltage drama. Just hours after the grand premiere, the housemates entered the race to become the first captain of Bigg Boss 20. The task included a secret power, a major elimination from the captaincy race, a birthday-themed cake task and three contestants fighting for the final spot.

Here is everything that has happened so far in the first captaincy race.

The Premiere and the Vardaan Theme

Bigg Boss 20, also promoted with the theme “Tathastu” or “Tathas-Two”, premiered on September 6, 2026. Salman Khan returned as the host. The show streams daily at 9 PM on JioHotstar and airs at 10:30 PM on Colors TV.

This season revolves around the concept of “Vardaan”. The twist gives contestants special powers and introduces the idea of two lives or extra chances inside the house.

Sixteen contestants entered the house on premiere night after one additional hopeful lost the public vote before entering. The new lineup includes television actors, sports personalities, singers, social media creators and regional stars.

The contestants include Olympic boxer MC Mary Kom, Bhojpuri star Amrapali Dubey, television actresses Kanika Mann and Mahhi Vij, Panchayat actor Aasif Khan, singer Qazi Tauqeer, YouTuber and gamer Tanmay Singh, popularly known as Scout, rapper Yung DSA and content creator Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu, among others.

Kanika Mann’s Secret Power Changes the Game

Kanika Mann became the first contestant to enter the house and immediately received a secret task in the Confession Room. Bigg Boss gave her the title of “Puppet Master” and asked her to name the housemate she disliked the most.

Kanika chose singer Qazi Tauqeer.

She later explained her decision inside the house. Kanika said she found her conversations with Qazi one-sided. According to her, Qazi often interrupted people and did not let them complete their points.

Her decision immediately changed the captaincy race.

Bigg Boss used Kanika’s Vardaan and removed Qazi Tauqeer from the first captaincy race. The decision reduced the number of contenders and turned the captaincy battle into a much tighter contest.

The Birthday Cake Task and Qazi’s New Role

To celebrate the show completing 20 years, Bigg Boss introduced a birthday-themed cake task. The task also worked as a selection round for the first captaincy.

The housemates took part in a cake-based activity that tested their coordination, strategy and ability to perform under pressure.

Since Qazi had already lost his chance to become captain, Bigg Boss appointed him as the sanchalak, or moderator, for the task.

This created an interesting situation. Bigg Boss removed Qazi from the captaincy race but then gave him temporary authority over the task that would decide the remaining contenders.

The cake task soon created tension inside the house. Some contestants criticised Qazi’s decisions as sanchalak and accused him of showing bias.

The tension between Qazi and rapper Yung DSA also grew during and around the task. Their earlier disagreements turned more serious as the activity progressed.

Other conflicts also started to emerge. Mahhi Vij reportedly irritated some housemates with her requests for help with her luggage and tea. Aman Gandhi and Arishfa Khan were among those who reacted to her demands.

Gullu, Aasif Khan and Yung DSA Reach the Final Stage

The cake task eventually produced three finalists for the first captaincy race:

• Kushal Tanwar (Gullu) — The popular digital content creator has an energetic personality and a strong social media following. He has already started attracting attention from viewers.
• Aasif Khan — The actor is best known for his role in the Amazon Prime series Panchayat. He has maintained a calm personality inside the house and has also attracted attention for helping fellow contestants without waiting for them to ask.
• Yung DSA (Harsh Machare) — The rapper has brought a strong Gen-Z presence and an outspoken personality to the house. His clashes with Qazi have already shown that he is willing to speak his mind and challenge other contestants.

These three contestants will now compete in the final stage of the captaincy process.

At the time of filing this report, the show had not yet revealed the final winner on air. Viewers will have to watch the upcoming episodes to find out who becomes the first captain of Bigg Boss 20.

Why the First Captaincy Matters

The captain in Bigg Boss gets more than just a title. The captain usually gets immunity from that week’s nominations and enjoys better living arrangements. The captain also gets authority over daily chores, luxury budget tasks and, in some situations, nominations or punishments.

The first captain can play an important role in establishing the early power structure inside the house. A strong captain can build alliances and influence other contestants, while a controversial captain can quickly create enemies and conflicts.

Over the years, Bigg Boss has seen first captains who successfully established themselves as strong players as well as captains who lost their position quickly after facing opposition from other housemates.

This season could make the situation even more unpredictable because of the Vardaan system and its additional powers and second-chance elements.

Other Drama Builds Inside the House

While the captaincy race remained the biggest talking point, other conflicts also started taking shape.

Mahhi Vij’s direct and assertive approach during the first few hours attracted criticism from some housemates. Arishfa Khan openly expressed her discomfort with Mahhi’s requests.

The tension between Qazi and Yung DSA also escalated. Their exchanges moved from sarcastic comments to a serious confrontation, forcing other housemates to step in.

At the same time, Kanika Mann’s decision to use her special power against Qazi gave the season another major talking point.

These incidents have created a tense atmosphere inside the house within the first few days itself.

Social media users have also reacted strongly to the developments. Clips showing Kanika’s decision, Qazi’s reaction, the cake task and the three-way captaincy race have started circulating widely.

Some fans have praised Kanika for using her special power strategically at such an early stage. Others believe Qazi became an unfair target before he could properly settle into the game.

Gullu, Aasif Khan and Yung DSA have also started building support among their existing fan bases and among viewers who have recently started following the season.

What Happens Next?

The upcoming episodes will reveal whether Gullu, Aasif Khan or Yung DSA becomes the first captain of Bigg Boss 20.

After the show announces the captain, the house will move into the regular weekly cycle of nominations, luxury budget tasks and Weekend Ka Vaar episodes hosted by Salman Khan.

The first eviction will traditionally take place toward the end of the opening week.

For viewers who have just started watching the season, the biggest takeaway remains clear: Bigg Boss 20 has already shown that the Vardaan twist will play an important role in the game.

Kanika Mann used her special power and removed Qazi Tauqeer from the first captaincy race even before the housemates could fully settle in. The cake task then reduced the remaining competition to three very different personalities — a digital creator, a calm actor and an outspoken rapper.

The three contestants will now fight for the first captain’s badge.

The winner could use the position to build alliances, establish authority or protect themselves during the early nominations. The decision could also influence the house dynamics in the weeks ahead.

One thing has already become clear: the twentieth season has not given viewers a slow start. The power games began almost immediately after the contestants entered the house.

Bigg Boss 20 continues daily on JioHotstar at 9 PM and Colors TV at 10:30 PM. The battle for the first captaincy remains one of the biggest storylines to watch as the season moves forward.