Indian version of ‘Big Brother’ accused of promoting bigamy

Bigg Boss OTT, the Indian version of Big Brother, landed in controversy for including a male contestant with his two wives, which critics say has promoted bigamy to an audience of millions.

Armaan Malik, 36, a YouTuber, entered the show with his two wives Kritika and Payal Malik. Host Anil Kapoor looked surprised as the two women explained how Payal had become Malik’s first wife in 2011 before he started an affair with Kritika seven years later.

“I didn’t realise they would get so close but I totally accepted Kritika and we absolutely love each other and live together as a happy family,” said Payal, adding that the wives were “best friends”.

However, when Payal was evicted from the house by public vote on Sunday, she said she had been miserable when Malik came home with Kritika.

She said, “The experience which I had faced in my life has been very bad because If anyone else had been in my place, she would not have accepted it but I accepted it because my circumstances were bad.”

She added, “I left Armaan for 1.25 years but due to some circumstances, we have to accept it, have to live happily together.” “It was very difficult to face it when I accepted it but after some time, the difficulty changed into love. Kritika and I have become so attached that we love each other more than Armaan,” she concluded.

Speaking about whether polygamy is the reason behind her eviction, Payal said, “We don’t promote this thing or we don’t say to do two marriages. We are giving a message to our viewers that no man has the right to do two marriages because a woman can’t share her husband. So, it is not the reason for my eviction.” At the last, Payal thanked her viewers for their support and asked her fans to support Armaan and Kritika.

Malik and his wives are Hindus, for whom polygamy is not permitted by law, although it is allowed for Muslims under Islamic personal law.