Taking to Instagram early Thursday morning, Bhanushali condemned fellow contestants Yung DSA, Kanika Mann, and Love Gill’s mother for invoking his children to target Vij's gameplay. Declaring that his children's emotional peace takes precedence over reality television entertainment, the actor announced that he would no longer allow his kids to watch the show and signed off his statement with "Good bye BIGG BOSS 20".
What Sparked the Dispute Inside the 'Bigg Boss 20' House
During recent high-voltage nomination and captaincy tasks, Mahhi Vij became the primary target of several housemates. While disagreements over strategy are standard for the format, Bhanushali pointed out that several participants crossed personal boundaries by questioning Vij's motherhood and bringing her children into the line of fire:
Yung DSA: Allegedly remarked during a task argument that Vij's children would grow up feeling ashamed of their mother's actions on the show.
Kanika Mann: Stated during an exchange that she would never want to meet Mahhi’s children.
Love Gill & Her Mother: Following a separate clash in which Love Gill labeled Vij a "home breaker"—leading Vij to break down emotionally—Love Gill’s mother brought Tara into the conversation by questioning how Vij would feel if similar remarks were directed at her daughter.
Jay Bhanushali’s Fatherly Stand: "Disagree with Mahhi, Don't Drag My Kids"
Sharing a photograph of Mahhi Vij alongside daughter Tara and their foster children, Rajveer and Khushi, Bhanushali explained that he had initially refrained from commenting on anyone's gameplay. However, seeing his children watch the broadcast and ask him unsettling questions forced him to speak out:
“JUST FOR A TASK – Yung DSA talking about my children growing up and feeling ashamed of their mother's actions, Kanika saying she would never want to meet Mahhi's children, and Love Gill's mother bringing my daughter into the conversation... Tara is a 7-year-old baby. She is not a contestant of Bigg Boss. Getting a child to put someone down is absolutely nonsense.”
Drawing a clear distinction between competitive criticism and personal attacks, he added:
“Bigg Boss is a game. Disagree with Mahhi, question her gameplay and challenge her decisions, but bringing her children, motherhood and personal life into it is crossing a boundary. As a father, I don't want my children growing up with a trauma that Tara's name is used in every sentence to put Mahhi down. The game may be entertainment for everyone, but for us, this is personal. My children's peace and innocence will always come first. Good bye BIGG BOSS 20.”
Bhanushali also appealed to social media users and fan clubs to stop tagging him or his children in clips and negative online discourse surrounding the episode.
Team Mahhi Vij Responds; Co-Parenting Solidarity
Shortly after Bhanushali posted the statement, Team Mahhi Vij responded in the comments section, thanking him for stepping up for their family:
“@ijaybhanushali This means more than words can express. Thank you for always putting our kids first.”
Although Jay Bhanushali and Mahhi Vij officially announced their mutual separation and divorce in January 2026 after more than a decade of marriage, the two have consistently maintained a united front as co-parents. Earlier in the season, when Vij spoke emotionally inside the house about raising Tara as a single mother and declining alimony, Bhanushali had similarly backed her publicly, affirming that she and Tara would always remain his lifelong responsibility regardless of their marital status.
Television & Industry Context:
The incident has ignited wider debate among television viewers and reality-show commentators regarding the ethical boundaries of unscripted programming. With contestants increasingly leveraging family narratives during nomination tasks, Bhanushali's decision to pull his children away from the broadcast underscores the growing friction between high-TRP house conflicts and the real-world impact on minors watching from home.
