Television actor Manish Goel entered the Bigg Boss 20 house as the season’s first wildcard contestant during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode on October 10, 2026. Host Salman Khan introduced Goel to the housemates after initially pranking them into believing he was only on the show to promote an upcoming project.
Goel joined Salman Khan on stage before entering the house. The two played a prank on the contestants, suggesting Goel had appeared solely for promotional purposes. Salman then revealed Goel’s true role as the first wildcard entrant of the season.
Two Decades in Television
Goel has been a familiar face on Indian television since the late 1990s. He rose to fame with roles in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kasautii Zindagii Kay.
His other television credits include Bhabhi, Devi, Bhagyalakshmi, Ayushman Bhava, Tantra and Hamari Wali Good News. He was most recently seen in Anupamaa as Raghav, Pankhuri’s estranged husband.
Goel’s film work includes Hum Phirr Milein Na Milein, for which he also received writing credit, and Hanak. He has also participated in several reality shows.
He competed with his wife, Poonam Narula, in the first season of Nach Baliye, where the couple finished as runners-up. His other non-fiction appearances include Zara Nachke Dikha, Say Shava Shava and Ustaadon Ka Ustaad. In 2013, he won the celebrity cooking show Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki.
First Impressions of Housemates
During his entry, Goel shared his views on the contestants. He described housemate Mahhi Vij as calculative.
Mahhi appeared delighted to see Goel, as the two have known each other for a long time.
Another Wildcard Expected
Salman Khan also hinted at a second wildcard entry during the same episode. The identity was not officially revealed, but promos indicated social media influencer Nakul Dhull, known as Mitthu Don, may join the show.
Dhull is an engineering graduate from Faridabad, Haryana. He has recently faced controversy over viral videos in which he made remarks about women, referring to them as the lower gender.
Bigg Boss 20 streams daily at 9 pm on JioHotstar and airs on Colors TV at 10.30 pm.
