Not long ago, a ₹100 crore box office collection was considered a strong indicator of a film’s success. As inflation increased, this figure soon became the standard budget for major Indian films, with top actors reportedly charging similar fees for their projects. Today, the landscape has shifted, and even television can match that income, often in just over a month. Reports suggest that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will earn this much in just six weeks by hosting the new season of Bigg Boss.
Bigg Boss 18 Launches with High Expectations
Bigg Boss 18 premieres on Colors TV on Sunday, October 6. While the first glimpses of the Bigg Boss house have been revealed, details about the contestants remain a closely guarded secret. Speculations abound, but, as in previous years, the official announcements will be made live on TV. Another aspect shrouded in secrecy is Salman’s remuneration for this season. A recent report by Her Zindagi indicated that Salman is charging ₹60 crore per month to host Bigg Boss this season.
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Sources close to the production confirm that the superstar has indeed increased his fees from last season, which comprises both per-episode payments and a lump sum contract amount. This arrangement brings his total earnings close to the ₹60 crore per month reported. If the season lasts for 15 weeks, similar to the previous one, he stands to earn nearly ₹250 crore—an astonishing sum.
The Making of a Television Superstar
Salman Khan has been the face of Bigg Boss for over 15 years, making it difficult to envision anyone else as the host. The show initially featured Arshad Warsi and Amitabh Bachchan before Salman took over. Whenever he has stepped away from hosting—whether due to legal matters or film commitments—the show’s ratings tend to drop.
The audience clearly communicates that Salman is the show’s main draw. While the concept, drama, and celebrity contestants attract viewers, Salman ties everything together like a skilled sutradhar. Consequently, Bigg Boss producers are willing to pay him increasing fees each year.
His enduring film stardom further enhances his negotiating power. Trade insiders note that when he began hosting Bigg Boss 15 years ago, he earned between ₹5 and ₹10 crore per film. Today, he commands up to ₹150 crore per movie. Considering that a typical Bigg Boss season occupies about a third of his calendar year, his compensation expectations align accordingly.
Salman now reigns as the top star on television, with no one coming close to his earnings. Currently, Rupali Ganguly, the highest-paid actor on TV, reportedly receives ₹3 lakh per episode for Anupamaa. For a comparable month-long Bigg Boss season, her earnings would be around ₹2 crore.
Kapil Sharma reportedly made approximately ₹60 crore for the first season of The Great Indian Kapil Show, while Amitabh Bachchan also shares the upper echelon of earnings through his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati. However, Bachchan records five episodes weekly, whereas Salman typically does two, which justifies his higher income.
A Future with Bigg Boss
Salman Khan shows no signs of stepping away from Bigg Boss. In a recent promo, he humorously referenced a ‘future self’ suggesting he would still be shooting for Bigg Boss 38. Given the star’s immense popularity and the show’s consistently strong TRPs, such a scenario seems plausible. It begs the question: how much could the superstar be earning by then?