Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 hit the airwaves on September 28, 2025, with Kiccha Sudeepa returning as host. The show airs on Colors Kannada and streams on JioCinema, leading up to a star-studded finale on January 18, 2026. The premiere featured an “Onti or Janti” twist, with contestants entering as solo players or in pairs. After a brief mid-season suspension in October 2025 (due to a pollution board notice), production resumed and the drama picked up pace. Now as Season 12 nears its climax, fans are following every nomination and vote. The winner will take home ₹50 lakh and the Bigg Boss trophy, making audience voting more crucial than ever.
Contestants & Current Finalists
Season 12 introduced a diverse lineup of 19 contestants (from RJ Amith to comedian “Cockroach” Sudhi). These entrants ranged from television stars and actors (like Ashwini Gowda, Rashika Shetty, Rakshitha Shetty) to social media personalities and newcomers (including funnyman Gilli Nata, Dhanush Gowda, and others). Over 15 weeks of tasks and eliminations, only six finalists remain in the Bigg Boss house: Ashwini Gowda, Gilli Nata, Rakshitha Shetty, Dhanush Gowda, Mutant Raghu, and Kavya Shaiva. These six have become fan favorites, each enjoying strong support on social media. As one report notes, all six finalists “have gained immense followings” online, setting the stage for a tense grand finale showdown.
The Season 12 contestants include TV personalities, comedians and social-media stars. In the final week, only six remain – Ashwini Gowda, Gilli Nata, Rakshitha Shetty, Dhanush Gowda, Mutant Raghu, and Kavya Shaiva – all vying for the grand prize of ₹50 lakh and the title.
Voting: How It Works
Bigg Boss Kannada uses an audience voting system: viewers vote to save their favorite housemates. The primary method is through the JioCinema (formerly Hotstar) app or website. To vote, fans typically:
Log in to JioCinema/Hotstar. Open the app (or visit the website) and sign in with your mobile number or account.
Find Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12. Search for the show in the app or under the ‘TV’ section.
Click “Vote Now” for nominated contestants. When eliminations are announced, the app will show the list of nominees. Tap your favorite contestant’s name and cast your vote.
Repeat multiple times. Each account gets multiple free votes per day (often up to 99 per user per day, though the exact limit is set by the platform). Fans often use multiple accounts to increase vote counts.
Filmibeat specifically notes that viewers can cast votes on the JioHotstar (JioCinema) app. Some seasons also offer SMS or call-in voting via telecom partnerships, but the app method is most common today. Voting lines usually close a few hours before an episode’s airing or by midnight before a finale. (For example, final voting is typically allowed until midnight on the eve of the finale.) The votes are tallied to decide who stays and who leaves, and in the end, who wins the show.
Voting Trends & Recent Results
Official vote counts are not publicly disclosed daily, but media reports and fan polls give a clear picture of the trends. Season 12 has seen unprecedented engagement – host Sudeep revealed that over 37 crore votes were cast during the final phase of the competition, underscoring the season’s popularity. Fan and media analyses consistently show Gilli Nata far ahead in the voting race. For instance, Filmibeat’s vote tracker states that “as per the latest BBK 12 voting trends, Gilli Nata is once again leading”. Similarly, a Filmibeat audience poll projected Gilli and Ashwini Gowda as the top finalists, with Gilli poised to win.
Analysts note that Rakshitha Shetty also has a strong voting base. Free Press Journal reports that “strong audience support” has made both Rakshitha and Gilli “early favourites to win”, although they caution the final result could still hinge on last-minute votes. In fact, many fan tweets and social media polls have already “called” Gilli as the winner – one example being, “Heartiest congratulations to the Bigg Boss Kannada 12 winner, Gilli Nata!”. All these indicators – massive vote totals, fan polls, and social media buzz – suggest that Gilli Nata currently commands the highest viewer support, with Ashwini and Rakshitha trailing but still very competitive.
Finale Predictions: Who Will Win?
As the finale night approaches (scheduled Jan 18, 2026 at 6 PM on Colors Kannada), speculation about the winner is feverish. Most pundits and fan polls point to Gilli Nata as the likely victor. Filmibeat’s editor noted that “all eyes are on the finale” and that one of the finalists will lift the trophy; in their audience poll, Gilli is “expected to emerge as the Bigg Boss Kannada 12 winner”. Free Press Journal similarly highlights strong fan declarations like “Bigg Boss Kannada 12 Winner – Gilli Nata” (with tweets explicitly naming him as the next winner).
However, nothing is certain until Sudeep announces it live. In any case, the eventual champion will go home with ₹50 lakh in prize money. The final vote by the audience on finale night will seal the fate. Whether the trophy is raised by Gilli, Ashwini, Rakshitha, or one of the others, it will conclude one of the most hotly-contested seasons in Kannada Bigg Boss history, marked by record participation and engagement.
Spotlight: Gilli Nata – Fan Favorite Contestant
Among the finalists, Gilli Nata stands out as the season’s breakout character. (His real name is Nataraj, but he’s better known by his stage name.) Gilli is a comedian and actor from Malavalli, Karnataka, who gained fame with folk-comedy and TV appearances. Filmibeat describes how Gilli’s “charm and popularity reached new heights” after entering Bigg Boss Kannada 12. He is “known for his spontaneous humour, witty one-liners, and engaging persona,” and quickly became “a central figure in the season’s narrative”. Fans love his underdog story – coming from rural roots to national TV – and his genuine, down-to-earth style.
By late 2025, Gilli Nata “remains a strong and colourful contender”. His presence has “consistently boosted audience engagement,” according to the same profile. That translates into votes: as noted, Gilli has led every reported vote trend. His supporters have even launched viral campaigns (hashtags like #100daysofGillidomination) and organized massive voting drives. All this buzz means Gilli not only entertains viewers but seems poised to take the crown – a fitting climax to his journey on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12.