Shweta Tiwari on Saturday walked away with the crown of Bigg Boss 4 and the prize money of Rs10 million (Dh791,770) at a grand finale after her dignified and balanced behaviour for 14 weeks in the house. She is the first woman to win the show.
An overwhelmed and emotional Tiwari, dressed in a fuschia-coloured sari, burst into tears after seeing her daughter and mother when she came on to the stage.
"I have won because of your love. I am very happy," she said to the audience after being announced the winner.
The first three seasons of the show were won by actor Rahul Roy, reality show winner Ashutosh Kaushik and Vindu Dara Singh, respectively.
The actress, once regarded as the small screen's favourite bahu (daughter-in-law) after she gained fame with Kasautii Zindagii Kay, pipped finalists WWE wrestler The Great Khali, actor Ashmit Patel and Dolly Bindra, who is infamous for her bizarre behaviour, to win the reality show.
Though the decision was based on viewers' votes, Tiwari's competitors Samir Soni, Manoj Tiwari and Aanchal Kumar felt she was most deserving owing to her patience in dealing with the verbal fights with loud-mouthed co-participant Bindra, who walked away as the third runner-up. Khali was declared first runner-up and Patel second runner-up.
All three runners-up took home a bike each, while actor-model Sameer Soni received a Chevrolet Cruze as a special prize for being the boldest and most stylish participant of this season.
