Ashay Sewlall

Ashay Sewlall is a South African former professional footballer, content creator, fitness enthusiast and television personality from Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. Born on 5 February 2001, he first built a name for himself through football before moving into social media, fitness and entertainment. He later became widely known as a housemate on Big Brother Mzansi Season 6, where he was given the nickname “Paprika” because of his energetic and lively personality.

Ashay Sewlall Early Life

Ashay was born on February 5, 2001 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He developed a passion for sport from a young age, with football becoming one of the biggest parts of his life.

His sporting background helped shape his disciplined and competitive personality. He eventually turned that passion into a professional career, signing his first professional football contract at the age of 18.

Although football became his main career, Ashay has always had other interests. He is passionate about fitness, dancing, entertainment and creating content, and he has described himself as someone who enjoys taking risks and trying new things.

Football Career

Ashay began his professional football career in 2020, playing for Richards Bay FC. He played primarily as a defender and also captained the club’s Under-23 side in the Diski Challenge.

His time with Richards Bay coincided with an important period in the club’s history. He was part of the team that won the National First Division in the 2021–22 season, helping Richards Bay earn promotion to the Premier Soccer League.

For Ashay, professional football was not always an easy journey. He has spoken about the ups and downs of trying to establish yourself in professional sport and the uncertainty that can come with fighting for a place in a team.

Those experiences eventually taught him the importance of persistence and resilience.

The Comrades Marathon

After his football career, Ashay took on a completely different sporting challenge.

In 2025, he completed the famous Comrades Marathon, an approximately 89-kilometre ultramarathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

The race became more than just a personal fitness challenge. Ashay used the opportunity to raise funds for Sinosizo Siyaphambili, an organisation supporting disadvantaged young people in KwaZulu-Natal.

Completing the marathon also gave him a new perspective on his sporting career. He explained that finishing such a demanding race showed him that he could push himself physically and mentally, and it encouraged him to think about returning to football from the bottom if necessary.

Content Creation and Fitness

Away from football, Ashay developed an interest in content creation. He joined TikTok in 2024 and began building a following through videos featuring fitness, dancing, lifestyle content and his personality.

His ability to speak different languages, including isiZulu, has also helped him connect with a wider South African audience.

Ashay describes himself as someone who enjoys exploring different talents. Besides fitness and sport, he has expressed an interest in acting, dancing, speaking different languages and entertainment.

Big Brother Mzansi

Ashay entered Big Brother Mzansi Season 6, also known as Bazozwa, in January 2026.

At the time, he was introduced as a 24-year-old personal trainer and content creator from Richards Bay. His background as a former professional footballer and his experience completing the Comrades Marathon gave him an interesting story before he had even entered the house.

Ashay also made history on the show as the first Indian housemate in Big Brother Mzansi history.

Inside the house, his energetic personality quickly became one of his biggest characteristics. He earned the nickname “Paprika”, a reflection of his lively personality and the energy he brought to the competition.