Week 5 of Bigg Boss 20 ended with a tense result and no goodbye. In Episode 36, the Weekend Ka Vaar that streamed on JioHotstar on Sunday, October 11, 2026, host Salman Khan first told six-time world boxing champion Mary Kom that she was safe. He then revealed that Aman Gandhi had received the fewest votes of the eight nominated housemates.
Times Now's episode recap reported that Aman "lost one life" rather than walking out, which matches what Siasat and The Film Window had reported after the Friday shoot: Aman reportedly finished last in the vote but was saved from eviction because he still had a lifeline to spend. One written-update site, TellyReviews, described the moment as an eviction, so viewers may see both versions online. The main entertainment outlets that recapped the episode describe it as a lost lifeline, with no one leaving.
Who was nominated in Week 5
Eight contestants were in danger this week. According to Times Now and Filmibeat, the list was Qazi Touqeer, Mahhi Vij, Aman Gandhi, Kanika Mann, Gullu (Kushal Tanwar), Love Gill, Arishfa Khan and Mary Kom. Mary Kom was nominated directly by captain Uditi Singh, Filmibeat reported, while the rest were named by fellow housemates during the nomination task.
Voting on JioHotstar closed at 10 AM on Friday, October 9. Filmibeat reported unofficial voting trends that put Qazi Touqeer well ahead, followed by Gullu and Love Gill, with Mahhi Vij, Aman Gandhi and Mary Kom near the bottom. Those trends were never confirmed by the show, but the final result lined up with them. Our earlier preview, "Bigg Boss 20 Eviction Week 5: Mary Kom, Mahhi Vij and Aman Gandhi Reportedly Trail as Eight Face the Axe," laid out that bottom three before the result aired.
Why Mary Kom's survival matters
Mary Kom is one of the most famous names ever to enter a Bigg Boss house. The Olympic bronze medallist and Padma Vibhushan recipient was always going to draw viewers who do not usually watch reality TV. But being famous outside the house does not guarantee votes inside it, and her place near the bottom of the reported trends showed how hard it is for a quieter contestant to compete with the house's loudest players.
Surviving a week as a captain's direct nomination gives her a little breathing room. It also sends a message to the house that her outside fan base still turns up when it counts.
What losing a lifeline means for Aman Gandhi
For Aman, the result is a warning. A lifeline protects a contestant once, and once it is gone, the next bottom finish could be final. The Film Window noted that losing it could make his path through the coming tasks and nominations harder. He will now need to become more visible in the house if he wants a different result next time.
The episode itself gave him little airtime. TellyReviews observed that the result was "somewhat overshadowed by the larger drama," with most of Salman's session spent on the long-running lollipop remark controversy, Scout OP's behaviour towards an unwell Qazi Touqeer, and an apology from Uditi Singh to Qazi.
A busy weekend for the house
Week 5 is the second week running without a weekend eviction. Times Now noted earlier that the season, which premiered on September 6, had already lost Rohed Khan, Isha Rikhi and, in a mid-week exit, Rhiti Tiwari.
Instead of losing a housemate, the house gained two. Television actor Manish Goel entered as the first wildcard on Saturday, and social media creator Nakul Dhull followed on Sunday, according to Times Now and Filmibeat. With two new players and nobody gone, Week 6 starts with a bigger and more unpredictable house. TellyReviews' precap also points to a heated argument between Arishfa Khan and Kanika Mann in the next episode.
What happens next
The Week 6 nomination task is expected in the Monday episode. At the time of writing, the new nomination list had not been announced. Every housemate who just survived, including Mary Kom and Aman Gandhi, could find themselves back on it, and this time Aman will not have a lifeline to fall back on.
FAQ
Who was evicted from Bigg Boss 20 in Week 5?
No one left the house, according to Times Now. Aman Gandhi got the fewest votes but lost one of his lives instead of being evicted. One recap site described it as an eviction, but major outlets report he is still inside.
Was Mary Kom safe in Bigg Boss 20?
Yes. Salman Khan announced that Mary Kom was safe during the October 11 Weekend Ka Vaar.
Who were the Week 5 nominees?
Qazi Touqeer, Mahhi Vij, Aman Gandhi, Kanika Mann, Gullu, Love Gill, Arishfa Khan and Mary Kom.
When are the Week 6 nominations?
The nomination task usually airs early in the week. Episodes stream on JioHotstar at 9 PM IST and air on Colors TV at 10:30 PM.
Cover photo: Press Information Bureau / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India