Mahhi Vij Calls Bigg Boss 20 a ‘Divorcee Special’, Says She, Isha Rikhi and Mary Kom Are Entering Their ‘Second Innings’

Bigg Boss 20 wasted little time before bringing personal conversations, disagreements and unexpected revelations into the spotlight. Among the contestants making headlines after the opening episode was television actor Mahhi Vij, whose candid remarks about relationships and separation sparked a tense exchange inside the house.

While speaking with fellow contestant Isha Rikhi, Mahhi described the current season as a “divorcee special”, referring to herself, Isha and boxing champion Mary Kom. She also described their lives after separation as a “second innings”.

Mahhi Vij makes a remark about divorce inside the Bigg Boss house

Mahhi has been in the spotlight over her personal life following her separation from actor Jay Bhanushali. The two continue to co-parent their daughter despite going their separate ways.

During a conversation in the Bigg Boss house, Mahhi was asked about the kind of conversations she enjoys. Known for being outspoken, she said she enjoys gossip and conversations about the personal lives of people around her.

She then brought up the relationship status of some of the women in the house, saying that three divorcees were now part of the show — referring to herself, Isha and Mary Kom.

Mahhi described the situation as a “second innings” for the three of them and jokingly labelled the season a “divorcee special”.

The conversation soon moved towards Isha's decision to participate in Bigg Boss. Isha explained that she had generally maintained a private life and wanted audiences to know her for who she was rather than through her relationships.

She also made it clear that she wanted her own identity to take centre stage.

Isha Rikhi pushes back during the conversation

The discussion took a more uncomfortable turn when Mahhi continued asking about Isha's personal life. Isha appeared reluctant to discuss the subject, prompting a sharper response from her.

She questioned why there was such an insistence on discussing relationships and past marriages when the people involved had chosen not to speak about them.

The exchange highlighted one of the recurring themes of Bigg Boss — contestants having very different boundaries when it comes to discussing their private lives.

Mahhi later attempted a similar conversation with Mary Kom, asking about her divorce. Mary, however, chose not to get into details.

Mahhi subsequently said that discussing an ex-partner did not necessarily have to involve negativity and that people could also acknowledge the positive aspects of a past relationship.

Mahhi and Jay Bhanushali's 14-year marriage

Mahhi Vij and Jay Bhanushali married in 2011 after dating for a period of time. Over the years, they became parents to their daughter Tara and also opened their home to foster children Rajveer and Khushi.

Speculation about difficulties in their marriage had surfaced several times, although the couple largely stayed away from publicly discussing their personal circumstances.

In January 2026, Mahhi and Jay confirmed that they had separated after 14 years of marriage. Despite ending their relationship, the two have maintained that they will continue to support one another while co-parenting their daughter.

Isha Rikhi chooses to focus on her own identity

Isha Rikhi has also attracted attention because of her personal life and relationships. However, inside the Bigg Boss house, she indicated that she did not want her public image to be defined by whom she had dated or married.

Her comments suggested that one of her priorities on the show is to establish herself independently and allow viewers to understand her personality beyond headlines surrounding her relationships.

Mary Kom keeps her personal life private

Mary Kom has also experienced major changes in her personal life. The celebrated boxer was married to Karung Onkholer, popularly known as Onler, whom she met in Delhi. The couple married in 2005 and have four children.

Their marriage eventually came to an end, with the separation being handled privately through their family and community. Mary later acknowledged the end of the relationship publicly.

Unlike Mahhi's willingness to discuss the subject, Mary appeared unwilling to revisit the details of her divorce during the conversation inside the Bigg Boss house.

Bigg Boss 20 begins with plenty of drama

The latest season of Bigg Boss premiered on September 6, with Salman Khan introducing the contestants to viewers. Although reactions to the lineup have been mixed, the housemates have already provided enough material for conversations both inside and outside the show.

From early alliances to disagreements over personal boundaries, the first episode has established that the contestants may not take long to settle into the competitive atmosphere.

Mahhi's comments about the show's “divorcee special” have now added another talking point, particularly because they led to a disagreement over how much of a contestant's personal life should be discussed on national television.