Bigg Boss 8: Salman welcomes 12 contestants and a Secret Society

Bollywood star and host of India's biggest reality show Salman Khan launches Bigg Boss Season 8 amidst much pomp and fanfare in Lonavala, near Mumbai.

The actor is introduced as ‘Captain Salman Khan’. And the captain is accompanied by a lovely fight attendent Elli Avram.

Wearing a sequenced blue pilot’s jacket, Salman grooved on the title track of the show along with some of his hit numbers.

Salman Khan sets the mood for the grand premiere of Bigg Boss 8.

The Dabangg Khan performs on hit songs like "Hangover" and "Jumme Ki Raat" from his latest movie 'Kick'.

Fasten your seat belts as the contestants have checked-in and the Bigg Boss 8 flight is ready to take off.

And the contestants are:

The host welcomes the first contestant - television actress Karishma Tanna.

Karishma started her acting career in the popular TV series 'Kyunki Saas Bhiu Kabhi Bahu Thi'.

Karisma Tanna

Karishma was last seen in Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh and Aftab Shivdasani starrer Grand Masti.

Actress Sonali Raut and model/actor Upen Patel are the next passengers of Bigg Boss 8.

Sonali Raut

Sonali modeled for the Kingfisher calender and made her Bollywood debut with 'The Xpose'.

Flight attendent Elli Avram blinded-folded Upen Patel and he seems to have landed in a forest.

Upen Patel

Model Upen made his debut with Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor starrer '36 China Town'.

Salman reveals that the contestants have to live in an airplane, well that we had guessed for long now.

The next passenger to board the Bigg Boss flight is Soni Singh who loves acting and parting.

Soni Singh

Wonder what acting she will carry out in the Bigg Boss house and how she is going to party.

Soni played a negative role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali produced 'Saraswatichandra'. She was also seen in 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', 'Veer Shivaji' and 'Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann'.

Upen will now have Soni as company in the deserted jungle.

Aarya Babbar

Bigg Boss 7 contestant Armaan Kohli makes a stylish appearance and welcomes new contestant Aarya Babbar.

The two actors give a powerful performance on Mika Singh's 'Singham' number.

And the destination of arrival for Aarya Babbar is the cold, shivering Switzerland.

Arya made his debut in Bollywood in 2002 with 'Ab Ke Baras', he also played the role of a police inspector in Farah Khan’s 'Tees Maar Khan'.

Diandra Soares

'Comedy Nights With Kapil' fame Sunil Grover adds his flavour of laughter in the show. Alas! He is not a participant.

Sunil made an entry wearing his trademark salwar kurta, dark glasses staying loyal to his TV character 'Gutthi'.

'Gutthi' from Comedy Nights With Kapil

Well known model Diandra Soares is the next contestant. A shout out for her eccentric style and rainbow colour hair Diandra is sporting.

Sushant Divgikar

And the next contestant is Sushant Divgikar. Sushant participated in season 3 of a reality show titled 'Big Switch'.

Contestant number 8 is Gautam Gulati. This TV actor was last seen playing the role of Vikram Rathi in the popular series 'Diya Aur Baati Hum'.

Gautam Gulati

Along with Gautam, Sukirti Kandpal enters the Bigg Boss house as the 9th contestant. Sukirti was last seen in TV show 'Kaisa Ye Ishq Hai...Ajab Sa Risk Hai'.

She was also seen in 'Dill Mill Gaye' and 'Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani'.

Sukriti Kandpal

Praneet Bhat who recently played the role of Shakuni in mythological television drama 'Mahabharat' is contestant number 10.

Natasa Stankovic sizzles on stage with host Salman Khan.

Praneet Bhat

After an item song in 'Satyagraha', a cameo in 'Holiday', starlet Natasa Stankovic from Serbia will add the foreign twist in Bigg Boss 8 as the 11th contestant.

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba is the 12th contestant of Bigg Boss 8.

Natasa Stankovic

She made her debut with 'Yahaan' in 2005. Her other notable films include 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.', 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', 'Well Done Abba', and 'Bheja Fry 2' in 2011.

Manissha looks calm as of now but we wonder how long she can hold on to her nerves in the glass walled house.

Minissha Lamba

TWIST:

Now the new twist in season 8 is the Secret Society.

A secret society is formed in the house which will have three members and these 3 contestants will not face nomination and hence safe from eviction.

The power to control the housemates lies in the Secret Society - in other words to crack the whip.

So Bigg Boss 8 has finally taken off with 15 contestants and we hope to see loads of madness, drama, tempers flying and romance brewing.

Stay tuned with Emirates24|7 for all the updates.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.