Gaurav Khanna, the back-foot king who plays safe, silent and survived: Does he deserve to win Bigg Boss 19?

As Bigg Boss 19 inches toward its grand finale, one name continues to divide audiences and spark heated discussions: Gaurav Khanna. His journey in the house has been anything but conventional. Calm to a fault, underplayed to the core, and often dismissed as “invisible,” Gaurav has nonetheless made it to the finale week, surviving vote-outs, criticism, and pressure from all sides. But does he deserve to win Bigg Boss 19? Let’s decode.

Gaurav Khanna is the highest paid contestant in the latest season of Bigg Boss.(instagram/@gauravkhannaofficial)

His calmness: Strategy or weakness?

Throughout the season, Gaurav maintained a calm, composed exterior. While this meant he rarely jumped into fights or household issues, it also showcased a refreshing alternative to the usual chaos of Bigg Boss. The show often celebrates aggression as entertainment, but Gaurav dared to play differently. His peaceful approach demonstrated restraint, emotional maturity, and control qualities viewers often appreciate in hindsight, even if they don’t create immediate fireworks.

A late bloomer, but a strong one

It’s true that Gaurav spent most of the season on the backfoot. He avoided conflict, rarely shared opinions, and only began asserting himself in the final month. But when he did open up, he emerged with surprising sharpness. His strategic thinking in the Ticket To Finale task, his confrontations with Tanya and Farrhana, and his sudden shift into a more vocal contestant proved that Gaurav was not passive; he was observing, learning, and timing his moves. Many Bigg Boss winners in the past have followed a similar trajectory: silent buildup, explosive finish.

His journey proves he evolved and growth matters

Gaurav’s journey video made it clear: had Farrhana, Tanya, and Amaal not constantly poked and challenged him, he might have faded into the background. But he didn’t. Their pressure forced him to reveal layers of his personality, and he used those moments to show intelligence, humour, and surprising competitiveness. Growth is the heart of Bigg Boss, and Gaurav’s evolution from invisible to impactful fits the pattern of a deserving finalist.

His relationships were real, not performed

His friendship with Mridul was widely appreciated as genuine, effortless, and rooted in mutual respect. While he also shared bonds with Ashnoor, Abhishek, and Pranit, they didn’t receive much highlight. Still, Gaurav never faked connections for screen time. His limited circle was authentic, not a product of convenience. In a house where alliances shift daily, sincerity is a rare currency.

Repeated reminders from Salman Khan

Week after week, host Salman Khan had to push, remind, and almost plead with Gaurav to be more active. A contestant who needs to be repeatedly told how to play the game is inherently not demonstrating winning qualities. A true winner drives the show, not the other way around. However, in the last Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman appreciated his calm demeanour and said he would love to work with him.

Will all this be enough for Gaurav Khanna to win? He may be a likeable personality with a loyal fan following, but likeability alone doesn’t earn the trophy. Whether he has done enough to win enough fans over will only be seen on Sunday night. For now, Gaurav has done enough to enter his name as one of the favourites.