Riteish Deshmukh: Watching Bigg Boss is one thing, hosting it is a completely different ballgame

The fifth season of Bigg Boss Marathi – hailed as the most successful edition – has reached its finale. Host Riteish Deshmukh, affectionately called ‘Bhau’ by the cast and crew, flew in from London, taking a quick break from the shoot of the latest instalment of Housefull, to wrap up the season in style.
Ask him about the response he has received for the show, and he replies, “It’s all the audience’s love; they’ve been too kind to me.I haven’t really dwelled on why or how it happened. My father (late Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh) always said, ‘When people shower you with love, just bow down and say thank you’. That’s exactly how I feel right now.”
‘You should be responsible towards the work you are doing’
Success often comes with added pressure and responsibility. Does he feel that way? He responds, “I think it’s less about added pressure and more about being responsible towards the work you’re doing and doing it with utmost sincerity. Early on, I learnt the result of your work – whether it’s success or failure – isn’t in your control. However, while you are at it, you have to give it your 100 per cent with full dedication and shiddat”
‘I wanted to host in a way that felt true to my personality’
Riteish knew from the start that he wanted to host the show in a way that reflected his true self. Known for being calm and jovial, there were moments when he had to take a firm stand to steer the show in the right direction. He shares, “I am a huge fan of Bigg Boss and have watched all of Salman (Khan) Bahu’s episodes. He’s so engaging as a host – endearing, loving, and guiding like a big brother. I have always looked forward to the weekend episodes to see how he’d sum things up. However, watching the show is one thing, hosting it is a completely different ball game.”

He adds, “I wanted to host in a way that felt true to my personality. You need to constantly assess and understand the dynamics of how the contestants are performing. They often get disillusioned inside the house, so they need guidance because the audience forms opinions based on their actions. The show’s format requires a host to step in when someone goes off-track, which might come across as aggressive — something that’s not in my nature. I’m not one to express anger easily, but when it comes to the show, I had to do what was necessary. At the same time, I enjoy humour, so the audience would see me having serious discussions with contestants on Saturdays and fun conversations on Sundays. I didn’t want the contestants to dislike the host; they should feel like I’m having a good time with them. Sure, I’ll call them out, but I’ll also laugh and dance with them. I would also like to mention the incredible team working on Bigg Boss Marathi.”

‘Salman Khan is the OG Bigg Boss host, no one can match him’
Salman Khan is regarded as the OG host of the Bigg Boss franchise, and comparisons are inevitable, regardless of the language. Did it ever cross Riteish’s mind? He replies, “Salman Khan is the OG Bigg Boss host – no one can match him, period. He is a dear friend and like a brother to me. I remember discussing hosting the fifth season of Bigg Boss Marathi with him at his farmhouse. He asked me about the offer and encouraged me to take it on. I told him I wasn’t sure, and he simply said, ‘You’ll be able to do it’. That’s all the reassurance one needed. He has always been kind and gracious.”

‘Grateful to my Housefull team for adjusting my schedule’
Balancing commitments between Bigg Boss Marathi and the latest installment of Housefull was no small feat. He shares, “I committed to Housefull a year ago and was offered Bigg Boss six months later. The dates clashed because I had to shoot the reality show on weekends. When I spoke to my producer, Sajid Nadiadwala, he was incredibly accommodating with my schedule. Shooting in India is manageable, but overseas, the travel time really takes a toll. I only missed two weeks because I was on a cruise and couldn’t fly back, otherwise, I would have done that too. I’m also thankful to my co-actors for adjusting their dates to make this possible.”