4 years since Sidharth Shukla passed away: Was he the last alpha in the history of Bigg Boss?

A Man Who Played Without a Script:

When Siddharth walked into the Bigg Boss 13 house in 2019, few could predict that he would single handedly redefine the show’s cultural impact. Yes, he was already a television heartthrob, thanks to roles in shows like Balika Vadhu and Dil Se Dil Tak, but Bigg Boss was a different beast altogether, a show that exposes more than it edits.

While many contestants carefully curated their personas for the outside world, Siddharth did the opposite. He didn’t care for optics. He didn’t measure his words. He didn’t apologize for taking up space, for confronting people head on, or for expressing raw emotion. He was often criticized for his temper, his dominance, his sharp tongue, but those same traits also made him compelling. His flaws were not hidden; they were worn like armor.

And that’s precisely what made Siddharth the “alpha” in the house, not in a toxic, macho way, but in a primal, instinctive one. He led not by charm, but by sheer presence. You didn’t have to like him to acknowledge him. You just had to be in the room.

Redefining Masculinity on Screen:

Siddharth's version of masculinity didn’t fit neatly into the boxes Indian TV often creates. He could be vulnerable without seeming weak. He could cry and rage within the same hour, and neither took away from his dominance. His emotional bond with Shehnaaz Gill, deeply affectionate and often childlike, gave viewers a rare look at a man unafraid of soft connections, even as he maintained his commanding presence.

In a society still wrestling with outdated definitions of what it means to “be a man,” Siddharth offered a new archetype: a man who could protect without patronizing, fight without villainy, and lead without manipulation. He was proof that strength and sensitivity are not mutually exclusive.

The Void He Left Behind:

Since Bigg Boss 13, the show has seen its fair share of viral moments, controversial contestants, and manufactured rivalries. But there’s been a growing sense that something essential has been missing. The newer seasons have often been accused of becoming formulaic — contestants walking in with preset strategies, love angles that feel forced, fights that escalate on cue.

No one feels truly unpredictable anymore. No one dominates the house just by existing in it.

Even in moments of silence, Siddharth had presence. In contrast, many contestants since seem like they’re merely performing versions of what made him famous, without understanding the essence behind it.

An Alpha Without the Ego:

What truly set Siddharth apart was the contradiction he embodied. He could be fierce in arguments and then quietly cook for the same people he fought with. He could call someone out bluntly and still be the first to defend them from an outsider. His friendships, especially with Shehnaaz and Asim Riaz (before their eventual fallout), were intense, loyal, and deeply human. He didn’t need to be likable. And yet, he was loved. That, perhaps, is the essence of the alpha in the modern sense, not someone who dominates others, but someone who is so unapologetically themselves that others can’t help but orbit around them.

The Legacy of the Lone Wolf:

Two years on, Siddharth Shukla continues to trend on social media. His fans, affectionately known as "SidHearts," treat his memory not just with nostalgia but with reverence. In a way, Siddharth has become more than a celebrity, he’s become a symbol. A reminder that reality TV doesn’t have to be fake. That you can win not by playing the game, but by being unshakably yourself. No, Indian reality TV hasn’t seen anyone quite like him since. And maybe it won’t. Because Siddharth Shukla wasn’t just a contestant. He was the standard — the one against whom every reality TV personality will now be measured. And still fall short.