Mary Kom

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, widely known as MC Mary Kom or “Magnificent Mary”, is one of India’s most decorated boxers. Born in Manipur, she rose from a farming-family background to become a six-time world champion and one of the most influential women in Indian sport. Her career made her a national figure long before reality television entered the picture.

Mary won bronze in the women’s flyweight division at the 2012 London Olympics and later became the first Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold, doing so in 2014. She also won Commonwealth Games gold in 2018. Her sporting record has been recognised with major Indian honours including the Arjuna Award, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. She also served a nominated term in the Rajya Sabha.

Her entry into Bigg Boss Hindi Season 20 is one of the season’s biggest crossovers because she arrives from elite sport rather than the usual film, television or influencer circuit. Mary said she wanted viewers to see different sides of her personality as a mother, woman and athlete and spoke about discipline and shared responsibility inside the house. At the premiere, Priyanka Chopra, who portrayed Mary in the 2014 biographical film, sent her a special message.

Mary is an original Week 1 housemate. Her sporting achievements are established facts, but her Bigg Boss result is still open; no final rank or total day count should be assigned while Season 20 is ongoing.