15 August,2013 08:52 AM IST | | Sonali Joshi Pitale
Salman Khan's Bigg Boss is all set to roll out its seventh season but looks like the shroud of secrecy around the reality show is far from diminishing. Especially, in the ways the channel folk are keeping no stone unturned in keeping the identity of the contestants under wraps. So much so that it's almost a masquerade party for those appearing on the show, as none of the participants have any whiff of who their house mates would be.
Bound by law
To keep every detail of the show discreet, the channel first begins by building its core team around the show that consists of extremely trustworthy employees. Says a source, "Only trustworthy people are included in the casting process. The core team is repeated season after season and very reluctantly a new person is embraced into the fold, and that too after much deliberation. The team starts approaching various celebrities and as soon as they give the nod, a contract is drawn between the two parties to prevent any detail from being leaked out. They cannot even reveal beyond their immediate family details about their participation."
Face off
Possible names on the show this season:
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Pratyusha Banerjee | Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta | Kushal Tondon |
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Vastal Sheth | Armaan Kohli | Harbhajan Singh |
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Hazal Keech | Shaan | Kamya Punjabi |
Tough code to crack
The promos are shot separately with each contestant so that they do not get to know the identity of their fellow participants. An insider says, "In fact, the unit members are given a list of the names of contestants in coded words or with nicknames."
Hide and seek
The team and house inmates are also made to wear masks for the mock performances that ensue. The team gets to meet most of the contestants only a day prior to when they shoot for their entry sequence. Before stepping into the Bigg Boss house, each contestant waits in his or her vanity van till they are personally escorted to the venue. Instead of their names marked on the vans, each is represented only by a number.
Lock and key
The production team also makes sure they don't interact with inmates during the 90-day lockdown period. And when extra hands like plumbers and repairmen are required, they are sent inside the house with great care.
Bag and baggage
The team of contestants also has a strange list of articles of personal use that they can carry into the house. Sources say they cannot carry tissue paper with them and there is also ertain guidelines about the amount of luggage they can take into the house at the time of entry.