Vijay Sethupathi

Vijay Sethupathi made his highly anticipated debut as the host of Bigg Boss Tamil starting with Season 8, which premiered on October 6, 2024. Stepping into the role previously held for seven years by veteran actor Kamal Haasan, Sethupathi brought a fresh perspective under the tagline "Aalum Puthusu! Aatamum Puthusu!" (New Person! New Game!). His tenure continued into Season 9, which concluded on January 18, 2026. Throughout these two seasons, the show maintained its traditional format of approximately 105 to 106 days of intense competition, broadcast in the Tamil language on Star Vijay and streaming platforms like Disney+ Hotstar and JioHotstar.

His hosting journey has been marked by a distinctive "Makkal Selvan" (Man of the People) style—warm, conversational, and occasionally paternal. In Season 8, he made history by announcing the first-ever 24-hour eviction, where contestant Sachana Namidass was briefly removed from the house immediately after the launch. Sethupathi's approach often involves "roasting" contestants for their behavior while encouraging them to be authentic. Notable winners during his tenure include Muthukumaran Jegatheesan (Season 8) and Divya Ganesh (Season 9), with the latter's victory recently celebrated as a "lifetime memory" during the grand finale.

Despite his initial popularity, Sethupathi's involvement has not been without significant controversy and criticism. During Season 9, he faced backlash for his perceived leniency regarding physical violence and misconduct in the house. Specifically, his decision to avoid issuing "yellow cards" or immediate "red cards" to contestants like Kamrudin, despite repeated manhandling of others, led some critics to label him a "weak" host compared to his predecessors. This culminated in a major controversy during a "Ticket to Finale" task, where a violent scuffle between VJ Paaru and Sandra resulted in Sandra losing consciousness, leading to a eventual red card eviction for those involved. Additionally, the show faced external political pressure when leaders like T. Velmurugan demanded a ban, accusing the program of promoting content that disrespected Tamil culture.