Mahhi Vij: Bigg Boss 20’s “Second Innings” After Her Split From Jay Bhanushali
Mahhi Vij turned down Bigg Boss for years. She finally said yes just months after ending her 14-year marriage to Jay Bhanushali, and she wasted no time naming what the show means to her: a fresh start she is calling her “second innings.”
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Mahhi Vinod Vij |
| Date of Birth | April 1, 1982 |
| Age | 44 |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Years Active | 2002 to present |
| Ex-Spouse | Jay Bhanushali (m. 2011, separated January 2026) |
| Children | 3 (Tara, Rajveer, Khushi) |
| Current Project | Bigg Boss 20 (2026) |
Who Is Mahhi Vij?
Mahhi Vij was born on April 1, 1982, in New Delhi. She moved to Mumbai at 17 to pursue modelling, later stepping into television and music videos before building a career that has now spanned more than two decades.
Career: From Laagi Tujhse Lagan to Seher
Her breakthrough came with Nakusha in Laagi Tujhse Lagan on Colors TV, a role that won her the Gold Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role in 2011. She went on to play Nandini in Balika Vadhu, one of Hindi television’s most-watched shows, cementing her as a familiar face across the genre.
Beyond fiction, Mahhi built a strong reality-TV record of her own. She and Jay Bhanushali won Nach Baliye 5 as a couple in 2013, and she also competed on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 and Khatron Ke Khiladi 7. After a gap of nearly nine years away from fiction, she returned in December 2025 as Kausar Baig in Seher – Hone Ko Hai, alongside Parth Samthaan, before joining Bigg Boss 20 the following year.
Personal Life: Ending a 14-Year Marriage
Mahhi married actor and television host Jay Bhanushali in 2011. The couple have three children: Tara, born in 2019 via IVF, and Rajveer and Khushi, both raised as foster children. After denying divorce rumours in October 2025, the two announced their separation in January 2026, saying they would continue to co-parent together. Mahhi has since pushed back on speculation around alimony, and Jay has publicly said he continues to support her.
Bigg Boss 20: A Self-Declared “Divorcee Special”
Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, 2026, on Colors TV and JioHotstar, hosted by Salman Khan, with Mahhi Vij entering as the final contestant of the night. Salman revealed on air that she had turned the show down multiple times over the years before finally accepting this season, saying the timing simply felt right.
Inside the house, Mahhi wasted little time naming the season’s biggest personal-life pattern. Talking to fellow contestant Isha Rikhi, she pointed out that three divorced women, herself, Isha, and boxer Mary Kom, had all entered the same season, calling it a “divorcee special” and describing her own run as a “second innings.” She later asked Mary Kom about her divorce directly, a question Mary declined to answer.
Social Media Stats
| X (Twitter) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Not publicly verified | Profile |
| Approx. 2.2 million followers | Not publicly verified | Follower count not publicly verified |
Social media figures are approximate and may change.
Also Read – Who is Isha Rikhi, her Bigg Boss 20 entry, and her marriage and divorce from Badshah.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mahhi Vij?
She was born on April 1, 1982, making her 44 years old.
Is Mahhi Vij divorced from Jay Bhanushali?
Yes. The couple announced their separation in January 2026 after 14 years of marriage and continue to co-parent their three children.
Why did Mahhi Vij call Bigg Boss 20 a “divorcee special”?
She used the phrase because three recently divorced women, herself, Isha Rikhi and Mary Kom, all entered the same season.
What is Mahhi Vij known for on television?
She is best known for playing Nakusha in Laagi Tujhse Lagan and Nandini in Balika Vadhu, and for winning Nach Baliye 5 with Jay Bhanushali.
The Bottom Line
Mahhi Vij spent years saying no to Bigg Boss and, by her own account, said yes almost on instinct once her marriage ended. Whether that instinct pays off, she has already made her personal life part of the season’s opening storyline, on her own terms.