Every season of Bigg Boss produces at least one relationship storyline that outlasts the show itself, and for Season 18, that storyline belonged to winner Karan Veer Mehra and finalist Chum Darang — a pairing fans quickly nicknamed #ChumVeer. Here’s how their bond played out on screen, and what’s happened since the finale.
Who Is Chum Darang?
Chum Darang hails from Pasighat in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a former pageant winner and entrepreneur before stepping into acting. She’s appeared in notable projects including Badhaai Do (2022) alongside Bhumi Pednekar, a brief role in Paatal Lok (2020), and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). On Bigg Boss 18, she was the only woman to make it to the finale, ultimately finishing in fifth place among the top six.
How the Chumveer Storyline Developed in the House
Through the course of the season, Karan Veer Mehra developed genuine feelings for Chum Darang and was open about it on camera, at one point openly confessing his feelings to her inside the house. Chum acknowledged that she liked him too, but consistently attached a “complicated” label to the connection — she had exited a 10-year relationship before entering the house, and made clear she wanted to properly discuss where things stood only once the show had ended. Despite the ambiguity, their closeness became one of the most talked-about storylines of the season, alongside Mehra’s rivalry with runner-up Vivian Dsena.
What Happened After the Finale
The story didn’t end when the show did. Shortly after the finale, Mehra and Darang were spotted together at a party hosted by filmmaker Farah Khan, with Mehra posting photos to his Instagram story — including one showing Chum kissing him — tagged with the hashtag #Chumveer.
Around Valentine’s Day 2025, the pair posted couple-style photos and videos, including a clip of Mehra reciting a playful “Roses are red” message professing his feelings, which fans widely read as the relationship going public. Social media reaction was largely celebratory, with fans flooding the posts with congratulatory comments.
The picture got more complicated shortly after: in a media interaction, Chum’s mother described Mehra as “like a son” to her and praised how supportive he’d been of her daughter during the show, while also stating clearly that Chum and Karan were “just friends.” Chum herself has continued to describe the relationship as complicated rather than confirming it outright in interviews, even as the two kept appearing together publicly.
Karan Veer Mehra’s Own Comments
Asked directly about the relationship after his win, Mehra was candid but careful, saying the decision on whether to take things forward rested with Chum: “As Salman [Khan] sir had said, the choice is always the woman’s, it is her prerogative, so I will wait to hear it from her. I do love her as a friend and my family is quite chilled about it.” He also acknowledged feeling conflicted about Chum’s past relationship, saying he felt “bad” learning she may still have feelings for someone from before the show.
Final Thoughts
Nearly a year on, #ChumVeer remains one of the more genuinely unresolved reality-TV pairings in recent memory — equal parts on-camera chemistry, public affection, and repeated “just friends” walk-backs from those closest to the situation. Whether that ambiguity reflects a real relationship still finding its footing outside the cameras, or simply two people navigating fame and friendship after an intense shared experience, it’s clearly kept fans invested well past the season’s actual finale.