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Actress Shikha Malhotra Makes Headlines as a "Rumoured Bigg Boss 19 Contestant" As the first list of Bigg Boss Season 19 participants is set to release, the buzz is rife about who will go inside the house—both as prime players and wild cards. One of the hottest names doing the rounds is actress Shikha Malhotra. A recent appearance on a podcast has only further fueled the buzz. When asked whether she would want to be a Bigg Boss contestant, Shikha didn't beat around the bush. She said in a straight-shooting manner, "If I am given an opportunity, I will go." That single statement was all that social media needed to anoint her a "rumoured contestant" for Bigg Boss 19. For the uninformed, Shikha Malhotra is not just an actress. She is a certified nursing officer too. She first became well known for her appearance with Shah Rukh Khan in the film Fan, but her identity goes far beyond that. She was a frontline volunteer nurse at a Mumbai hospital during the pandemic, notoriously referring to herself as "a nurse first, then an actress." The selflessness had a cost to it—she too contracted COVID-19 and later developed a stroke, which left her half-paralysed on the right side. The recovery took her over two and a half years, for which her weight rose from 50 kilos to 86 kilos. Thanks to raw strength of will and determination, she not only lived through paralysis but also regained complete fitness, currently weighing a healthy 47 kilos. She is already a survivor and thus a figure of inspiration. But it was her bold remarks in Sid Kannan's podcast that left her trending. When asked about entering a show like Bigg Boss, which is controversial, Shikha replied, "If you can't take controversy and trolling, this industry is not for you.". Rumour and gossip dominate here. So if I do get a Bigg Boss call, I'll go willingly." That blunt assertion became headlines the very next day. Entertainment websites labelled her as "Bollywood's new rumoured Bigg Boss entry." In contrast, fans on social media welcomed her reaction as "fearless" and "on point." Shikha's familiarity with controversy and her readiness to take on criticism have made her an online favourite. But aside from the "rumoured contestant" label, she is one of the few personalities who can navigate the two demanding worlds of nursing and acting equally well. Her calmness says a lot about how she is not only capable enough to handle trolling and gossip but to also use them as her biggest strength. Whether she goes into the Bigg Boss house or not, Shikha Malhotra has already demonstrated the art of owning the spotlight.