The 50 Update: The 50 has been one of the most talked about reality shows which came with 50 celebs under one roof for the first time. The reality show is based on alliances and strategies during the tasks and features a lot of tiffs and controversies. While each contestant has been making sure to keep their best foot forward and emerge as a strong competitor for everyone. Among these, Sidharth Bhardwaj, known from MTV Splitsvilla and Bigg Boss, is drawing attention on The 50 after revealing that the reality TV personality worked as a taxi driver and club bouncer in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep finances stable when television projects slowed.
The revelation came during a task on The 50, when Sidharth shared that he earned his “real fortune” by driving a cab in 2020. The contestant recounted juggling jobs in the US at a time when many entertainment workers struggled for steady income and basic security.
Speaking about that phase, Sidharth said, “I worked a couple of jobs in America when times were tough. I worked as a security guard in a strip club.” The account surprised several co-contestants, who had mostly known Sidharth from mainstream Hindi reality shows and social media.
Sidharth explained that moving to America had been a long-term ambition, discussed often with friends Nikhil Chinapa and Raghu Ram. The plan stayed on hold for years due to limited contacts abroad and the absence of a clear roadmap, finally taking shape only during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Once settled in the United States, Sidharth turned towards stand-up comedy, fulfilling a long-standing personal goal. Describing the Los Angeles comedy circuit, Sidharth said, “LA is a very big place. Many times you get booked for a show, you travel and then find an empty room. People don’t show up and only some 10 people are there, whom you have to make them laugh. That is a challenge.”
After sharing the struggle behind those gigs, Sidharth entertained everyone on The 50 set with a dance act, joking that dancing was not a strong skill but still worth attempting. Several participants were visibly emotional, reacting to the contrast between Sidharth’s early reality success and later hustle abroad.
The 50, produced by Banijay Asia, started airing on 1 February and streams on Hotstar alongside its television run on Colors TV. The series gathers 50 known names from television, films and digital platforms, placing them in a format driven by strategy, survival choices and shifting alliances.
From the initial line-up of fifty contestants on The 50, Vanshaj Singh became the first participant to be evicted. Khanzaadi was later eliminated from the competition. The show’s structure keeps trimming the group as tasks intensify, while stories like Sidharth Bhardwaj’s US experience add a human layer beyond the game.