[radikal]

Ashmit Patel with Sara Khan and Veena Malik in Bigg Boss Season 4.
Bollywood PR guru Dale Bhagwagar’s suggestion that the upcoming Season 6 of India’s biggest reality show Bigg Boss “could target generation next to expand its fan-base to children and teens,” has caused an uproar in the industry circles.

Last week, while answering queries regarding Bigg Boss, the celebrity PR specialist also suggested that “the show could have a separate enclosure or playhouse specially constructed for kids, where they could make merry and also interact with superstar host Salman Khan.”

The idea has sparked a hot debate on whether it is okay to involve children in a reality show that is high on glamour, theatrics and politics, with ex-Housemates saying, it’s a ‘bad idea’!

In a report in Hindustan Times, actor Ashmit Patel said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. The purpose of the show is to put the housemates under such extreme physical, mental, emotional stress that they crumble; thus providing drama and content. I don’t think it’s correct to put a child through this.” Coincidently, Bhagwagar was Ashmit’s publicist during his stormy stint in Season 4.

The report also quoted Miss Afghanistan Vida Samadzai of Bigg Boss Season 5, stating, “I wouldn’t want fragile teens or innocent children to be a part of this war zone.”

But singer-actress Raageshwari who participated in Season 6, seemed to side with Bhagwagar’s view as she commented, “Children need to be nurtured and loved, so if Bigg Boss promises tons of love and emotional protection to children, then it would be interesting to learn from them.”

For the record, Dale Bhagwagar has handled the media affairs for some of the most controversial Bollywood celebrities including Shilpa Shetty during Big Brother, and Bigg Boss contestants Rakhi Sawant, Kashmera Shah, Sambhavna Seth, Vindu Dara Singh, Sherlyn Chopra, Ashmit Patel, Amar Upadhyay and Pooja Misrra, from time to time.a