Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 19: After weeks of intense anticipation, Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 concluded on a grand note with actor and comedian Gilli emerging as the winner. Host Kiccha Sudeep officially announced the result on stage, bringing the hugely popular season to a close.
Gilli scripted history by winning the title with a record-breaking vote count of over 37 crore, the highest ever in the history of Bigg Boss Kannada. Actress Rakshitha Shetty finished as the first runner-up after a closely fought final showdown between the two.
The top five finalists of the season were Gilli, Rakshitha Shetty, Ashwini Gowda, Raghu and Kavya. Among them, the final battle narrowed down to Gilli and Rakshitha, keeping viewers on edge until the final announcement.
As part of the winner’s prize, Gilli received the Bigg Boss Season 12 trophy along with Rs 50 lakh cash prize sponsored by partners and a Maruti Suzuki SUV. In a special gesture, host Kiccha Sudeep also personally announced an additional Rs 10 lakh cash reward for the winner on stage. Gilli won the hearts of audiences throughout the season with his humour and performance, which ultimately helped him clinch the trophy.
Rakshitha Shetty, who finished as first runner-up, was awarded Rs 20 lakh and Rs 5 lakh in cash prizes from two sponsors. Ashwini Gowda, who secured third place, received a total cash reward of Rs 12 lakh from three sponsors.
The third-place elimination was revealed through a dramatic light-box task conducted by Kiccha Sudeep, where Ashwini Gowda’s box turned red, confirming her exit from the race.
The Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 trophy drew special attention for its unique design inspired by Karnataka’s culture and heritage. Elements such as an elephant, palace architecture and Darpan Sundari motifs were engraved on the trophy, with the iconic Bigg Boss eye placed on top. For the first time, Kannada numerals were embedded inside the eye in a clock-style design, symbolising the cultural essence of the show.
Towards the end of the finale, Kiccha Sudeep entered the Bigg Boss house, offered prayers, signed autographs on contestants’ photographs and interacted with them about their journey inside the house. As fireworks lit up the surroundings and the house lights were switched off, contestants were seen getting emotional, marking the official end of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12.