Bigg Boss Kannada 12: Who Is First Finale Winner & Who Are Eliminated?

Cockroach Sudhi has been crowned the winner of the first finale of Bigg Boss Kannada 12, hosted by Kiccha Sudeep. Sudhi outperformed Ashwini Gowda, Rashika, and Malu to clinch the top spot in the mid-season finale.

As the winner, Sudhi earned a special immunity power, which he can either use at any point in the game or transfer to another contestant of his choice.

Meanwhile, Manju Bashini and Ashwini SN were shown the door in the weekend episode, following the midweek eviction of Sathish - marking the third elimination of the week.

The high-voltage finale episode was filled with entertainment, emotional moments, and candid confrontations. Host Kiccha Sudeep addressed several ongoing issues in the house, especially the heated clashes between Rakshita Shetty and the duo Ashwini Gowda-Jhanvi. The host didn't mince words, stating that the two had "crossed the line" and that their behaviour towards Rakshitha was unacceptable.

More importantly, Sudeep also applauded Gilli Nata for standing up for Rakshitha, giving him 'Kicchana Chappale' (a symbolic round of applause and appreciation).

This season's "first finale" marks a historic twist in the show's format. For the first time, Bigg Boss Kannada has introduced a mid-season finale, where a section of contestants have been eliminated to make way for a fresh set of wildcard entrants. The new participants are expected to enter the house in Sunday's episode, setting the stage for the second phase of the show.

Adding to the excitement, the live viewership of the finale on Disney+ Hotstar crossed 1 million concurrent viewers, a testament to the show's massive popularity and the curiosity surrounding its new format.

Voting Trends: Who's Leading the Race?

With fan voting peaking ahead of the finale, online polls had given a sneak peek into the audience's pulse.

At the top of the leaderboard is Gilli Nata, the funnyman of the season whose sharp wit and one-liners have made him a crowd favourite. He has garnered a whopping 7.11K votes (31%), taking a clear lead.

Following him closely is Abhishek with 5.77K votes (25%), while Rakshitha Shetty, known for her fiery confrontations with Ashwini Gowda and Jhanvi, stands in third with 5.19K votes (22%).

Trailing behind are Kaavya with 1.74K votes (8%) and Dhanush with 1.48K votes (6%).

However, the bottom half of the list paints a grim picture for several housemates. Dhruvanth (400 votes, 2%), Rashika (249), Mallamma (1%), Chandra Prabha (171), Manju Bhashini (172), Jhanvi (130), and Ashwini SN (289) are currently the least favoured by the audience - making them the likely targets for the mass elimination round.