Mary Kom may have traded the boxing ring for the Bigg Boss 20 house, but Priyanka Chopra believes her competitive spirit will follow her in. As the six-time world champion made her reality television debut on Salman Khan’s show, Priyanka sent a special video message for her former onscreen avatar, along with a playful warning for the other contestants.
Priyanka, who portrayed Mary in the 2014 biopic Mary Kom, recalled the boxer’s resilience and determination while wishing her luck for the new challenge. “You are going inside the Bigg Boss house, and I know this first-hand how strong, resilient and determined you are,” she said in the message. She also urged Mary to remain herself and approach the game with an open heart.
But it was Priyanka’s message to the rest of the housemates that caught attention. Drawing on Mary’s boxing credentials, the actor cautioned them that staying ahead of the champion would require endurance. “If you want to hold your own against Mary, be prepared for the long haul. Her knockout can be quite heavy,” she said, before signing off by telling Mary that she would be rooting for her throughout the show.
The connection between the two goes beyond the biopic. Priyanka played the titular boxer in Omung Kumar’s Mary Kom, which chronicled the athlete’s journey from Manipur to becoming one of India’s most decorated boxers. The 2014 film, which also starred Darshan Kumar and Sunil Thapa, received positive reviews and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
For Mary, meanwhile, Bigg Boss offers a chance to be seen outside the sporting arena. Ahead of her entry, she said that viewers would get to see different facets of her personality inside the house, including the sides of her shaped by being a mother and an athlete. She has also said that she intends to bring discipline into the house and expects the contestants to participate equally in household responsibilities.
Mary made her entrance on the grand premiere on September 6, arriving with her children and meeting Salman Khan on stage. She did not take long to find herself in the thick of the house dynamics either, getting into a disagreement with singer Qazi Touqeer over a bed on her first day. Her sons’ playful interaction with Salman also became one of the early talking points from the premiere.
Hosted by Salman Khan, the 20th season features a mix of actors, singers, influencers and other public figures, including Kanika Mann, Isha Rikhi, Rhiti Tiwari, Arishfa Khan, ScoutOP, Aman Gandhi and Qazi Touqeer, among others. The season has also introduced a new lifeline-based elimination format, with contestants receiving two lifelines before they can be eliminated.