As Bigg Boss 19 inches closer to its finale, Gaurav Khanna has become the season's first finalist after winning the Ticket to Finale task. But his milestone victory also stirred debate inside the house, with several contestants accusing him of holding back and maintaining a "safe" image throughout the show.

Even close friend Pranit More remarked that Gaurav continues to play "on the back foot" despite reaching the finale.

However, Salman offered a different perspective.

"Since day one, he has been playing the same game -- so now this is his game," the host said, applauding Gaurav's consistency.

"Agar yeh inki personality hai toh daad deni chahungi, aur agar yeh game hai, toh hats off brother."

(Hats off -- whether it's his nature or a smart strategy.)

Gaurav couldn't hide his smile as he received the rare praise.

With the grand finale set for December 7, Bigg Boss 19 is gearing up for its final, high-drama week. The show streams on JioCinema at 9 pm and airs on Colors TV at 10:30 pm.