Bigamy Brother: Indian version of Big Brother sparks outrage as contestant enters the show with his TWO wives… one of whom is voted off and reveals how miserable the relationship made her
- Big Boss OTT presents a group of influencers this year
- But the show’s producers were accused of showing bigamy to millions of people
- One of the women involved has since revealed that she is unhappy in the relationship
The Indian version of Big Brother has sparked outrage after a male contestant and his two wives were included in the line-up, with producers accused of promoting bigamy to millions of people.
Influencer Armaan Malik, 36, and his two wives, Payal and Kritika, were invited to Bigg Boss OTT, a reality TV show that attracted 8.8 million viewers last week.
The trio painted a harmonious portrait of their married life, even though their complicated relationship began only after Armaan started an affair with Kritika, seven years after he married Payal, her ‘best friend’, in 2011.
Payal said, ‘I didn’t expect them to become so close but I have accepted Kritika completely. We love each other immensely and live together as a happy family.’
But after Payal was voted out on Sunday, leaving her husband and wife alone in the house, she admitted she felt unhappy since they all moved in together.
Influencer Armaan Malik, 36, (pictured, center right) and his two wives, Payal (pictured, center left) and Kritika (pictured, right) were brought to Bigg Boss OTT
The complicated relationship began after Armaan started an affair with Kritika seven years after he married Payal, her ‘best friend’, in 2011
Payal said, ‘I didn’t expect them to become so close but I have accepted Kritika completely and we love each other immensely and live together as a happy family’
She told Indian media in an interview that she was ‘on the verge of committing suicide’ after she found out about her husband’s cheating and she separated from him for a year.
“There was a time when we didn’t want to see each other’s faces,” she added.
She also undermined the image of bigamy that she and her partners presented to the world.
“Whether it’s in our vlogs or interviews, we’ve never promoted it. Whatever mistake Armaan has done, I don’t think a man in India should do something like that. We’ve kept it going, but I don’t think anyone else can.”
Although bigamy is not legally allowed in India, Muslims are allowed to marry multiple wives under Islamic personal law.
But Payal revealed that she has been feeling miserable ever since they all moved in together
She revealed in an interview with Indian media that she was “on the verge of committing suicide” after finding out about her husband’s infidelity.
But Malik and his wives are Hindus and according to religious law they are not allowed to marry multiple partners.
Despite this, it is openly practiced in India, according to Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, who told The Times: ‘A man can indeed be prosecuted, but only if the first woman files charges. Otherwise, no. It cannot be a third party.’
But the widespread practice of bigamy does not make it any less controversial. Many commentators criticized the producers of Bigg Boss OTT for including the throuple.
Commentator and author Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr. said, ‘The producers of these reality shows are always looking for something sensational or controversial. And if there is nothing, they create something themselves, just to maintain the mass viewership.’