Bigamy Brother: Indian version of Big Brother sparks outrage as contestant enters the show with his TWO wives... one of whom is voted off and reveals how miserable the relationship made her

India's version of Big Brother has sparked outrage after including a male contestant and his two wives in the line-up - with producers accused of promoting bigamy to millions.

Influencer Armaan Malik, 36, and his two wives, Payal and Kritika, were brought onto Bigg Boss OTT, a reality TV programme which attracted 8.8million viewers last week. 

The throuple painted a harmonious portrait of married life together, even though the complicated relationship began after Armaan began an affair with Kritika seven years after he married Payal, her 'best friend', in 2011. 

Payal said: 'I didn't realise they would get so close but I totally accepted Kritika and we absolutely love each other and live together as a happy family.' 

But after Payal was voted off on Sunday, leaving her husband and her wife alone in the house, she revealed that she's been miserable since they all began living with each other. 

She revealed in an interview with Indian media that she was 'on the verge of committing suicide' after finding out about her husband's infidelity, and separated from him for a year.

'There was a time when we didn't want to see each other's face', she added. 

She also undercut the image of bigamy that she and her partners portrayed to the world. 

'Be it in our vlogs or interviews, we have never promoted it. Whatever mistake Armaan did, I don't think any man in India should do. We managed to sustain it, but I don't think anyone else can do that.'

While bigamy is not allowed in India by law, Muslims are allowed to marry multiple women under Islamic personal law. 

But Malik and his wives are Hindus, who aren't allowed to marry multiple partners under religious laws. 

Despite this, it is openly practised in India, according to supreme court lawyer Sanjay Hegde who told The Times: 'A man can indeed be prosecuted but only if the first wife brings charges. Not otherwise. It can't be a third party.'

But the widespread practice of bigamy doesn't make it any less controversial, with many commentators slamming Bigg Boss OTT's producers for including the throuple.   

Commentator and author Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr said: 'The producers of these reality shows are always looking for something sensational or controversial and if there isn't anything, they create it, just to keep their mass viewership alive.'