Since its 2017 launch, Bigg Boss Telugu has grown into one of the most-watched reality formats in Telugu television, adapted from the Dutch Big Brother concept and known for its intense, near-105-day house stays. Across nine seasons, the show has crowned actors, singers, digital creators, and even a commoner — reflecting how much its contestant pool has evolved. Here’s the complete winners list.
Quick Reference: All Winners
| Season | Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 | Siva Balaji | — | Jr NTR |
| 2 | 2018 | Kaushal Manda | — | Nani |
| 3 | 2019 | Rahul Sipligunj | Sreemukhi | Nagarjuna |
| 4 | 2020 | Abijeet Duddala | Akhil Sarthak | Nagarjuna (Samantha, guest week 7) |
| 5 | 2021 | VJ Sunny | Shanmukh | Nagarjuna |
| 6 | 2022 | Revanth | — | Nagarjuna |
| 7 | 2023 | Pallavi Prashanth | Amardeep Chowdary | Nagarjuna |
| 8 | 2024 | Nikhil Maliyakkal | Gautham Krishna | Nagarjuna |
| 9 | 2025 | Kalyan Padala | Thanuja Puttaswamy | Nagarjuna |
About the Show
Bigg Boss Telugu premiered July 16, 2017, on Star Maa, with Jr NTR hosting the debut season. Nani took over hosting duties for Season 2 in 2018, before Nagarjuna Akkineni stepped in from Season 3 onward and has hosted every season since, making him the franchise’s defining face. Seasons typically run for 105 days, and prize money has generally hovered around ₹25–55 lakh depending on the season.
Season 1 (2017): Siva Balaji
The inaugural season, hosted by Jr NTR, established the franchise in the Telugu market. Actor Siva Balaji Manoharan, known for his work in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, won the title along with a cash prize of ₹50 lakh, setting the tone for the show’s early credibility.
Season 2 (2018): Kaushal Manda
Nani took over hosting duties for Season 2, which became notable for the intense grassroots fan movement — the “Kaushal Army” — that formed around eventual winner Kaushal Manda. His victory came with ₹50 lakh in prize money, and he later stepped back from mainstream acting to pursue other interests.
Season 3 (2019): Rahul Sipligunj
Season 3 ran from July 21 to November 3, 2019, with Nagarjuna hosting for the first time (Ramya Krishnan filled in during Week 6). Singer Rahul Sipligunj won the season, with television personality Sreemukhi finishing as runner-up.
Season 4 (2020): Abijeet Duddala
Season 4 aired September 6 to December 20, 2020, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic — contestants underwent mandatory quarantine and testing before entering the house. Nagarjuna hosted most weeks, with actress Samantha stepping in as guest host for Week 7. Actor Abijeet Duddala won the season with ₹25 lakh in prize money and a bike, edging out Akhil Sarthak as runner-up in a finale attended by superstar Chiranjeevi, who helped announce the result.
Season 5 (2021): VJ Sunny
Season 5 ran September 5 to December 19, 2021, with Nagarjuna hosting for a third time. Television anchor and personality VJ Sunny won the title and ₹50 lakh, with Shanmukh finishing as runner-up — a win that opened doors to films and hosting opportunities for Sunny afterward.
Season 6 (2022): Revanth
Playback singer Revanth — already known for winning Indian Idol Season 9 — added a Bigg Boss Telugu title to his résumé in Season 6, taking home the trophy and ₹50 lakh under Nagarjuna’s continued hosting.
Season 7 (2023): Pallavi Prashanth
Season 7, subtitled “Ulta Pulta,” ran September 3 to December 17, 2023, with 19 housemates. Known as the “Rythu Bidda” (farmer’s son), agricultural content creator Pallavi Prashanth won with strong grassroots support, taking home ₹35 lakh cash, jewellery worth ₹15 lakh, and a car. Amardeep Chowdary finished as runner-up.
Season 8 (2024): Nikhil Maliyakkal
Season 8, branded “Limitless,” ran September 1 to December 15, 2024, with a larger 22-housemate cast. Nikhil Maliyakkal won the season, taking home ₹55 lakh and a car, with Gautham Krishna finishing as first runner-up.
Season 9 (2025): Kalyan Padala
The most recent season, subtitled “Ranarangam,” ran September 7 to December 21, 2025, again with 22 housemates over 105 days. Kalyan Padala won the title, with Thanuja Puttaswamy finishing as runner-up, in a season notable for its crossover guest appearances from hosts of other regional Bigg Boss editions, including Mohanlal (Malayalam) and Vijay Sethupathi (Tamil).
Final Thoughts
Nine seasons in, Bigg Boss Telugu has settled into a remarkably stable format under Nagarjuna’s now-seven-season hosting run, while its winners have increasingly reflected the show’s growing reach beyond established film and TV names — into music, digital content creation, and grassroots social media fandoms. With Season 9 having wrapped in December 2025, the franchise shows no sign of slowing its yearly rhythm heading into future seasons.