‘Salman Khan ne fasa diya’: Puneet Issar opens up about entering Bigg Boss 8 unwillingly

Actor and director Puneet Issar, known for his role as Duryodhan in Mahabharat, recently shared that he had no plans to enter Bigg Boss, but ended up in the controversial reality show due to Salman Khan's insistence.

In a candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Puneet opened up about the behind-the-scenes reason for joining the show. He revealed, “I was working on a film with Salman Khan and regularly visiting his home for script narrations. One day he was in the Bigg Boss house and told me, ‘Puns, udhar aaja yaar.’ The Bigg Boss team saw me and said, let’s get him in. Salman told them, ‘Take him.’ I said, are you crazy? I’m directing a film. But he trapped me. Isne fasa diya mere ko.”

Puneet added that Salman personally convinced him to sign the contract. Recalling the moment, he said, “He told me, ‘Puns, just go for a week or two. I’ll get you out.’ And I signed without knowing what I was getting into. Later, when I told my daughter about it, she was shocked.” He continued, “My daughter asked, ‘Do you even know what Bigg Boss is?’ I said no. She showed me a couple of episodes. I got cold feet. I was scared.”

The fear wasn’t baseless. Puneet recalled watching the infamous Dolly Bindra episode before entering the house. The chaos and abuse left him shaken. “People were yelling, cursing each other. I was like, where am I going?” he added. Although Puneet had initially planned to stay for a few weeks, he remained inside for almost three months. Reflecting on the experience, he described Bigg Boss as a “correction center”. According to him, it teaches you about anger control, hunger management, and instills discipline.

Puneet and Salman share a long-standing bond. The actor had directed Salman in Garv: Pride and Honour. Despite his initial reluctance, Puneet was seen in Bigg Boss Season 8. His story highlights how personal relations sometimes outweigh professional decisions—even when it means entering a house filled with drama.