The third quarter of the year will see several top Bollywood stars vying for your attention, not on the big screen, but on the small one. Salman Khan will be back to host the 11th season of Bigg Boss in October, Akshay Kumar is returning to TV after three years as the super judge of comedy show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Shah Rukh Khan is making a comeback to the small-screen with TED Talks India as its host, Shilpa Shetty Kundra continues to be the judge on Super Dancer 2, and an assortment of B-Town actors will be battling it out on Farah Khan’s show Lip Sing Battle.
Amitabh Bachchan with his deep baritone voice and inimitable hosting style is already drawing the viewers to his game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, which is back for its ninth season and has dethroned the Rohit Shetty hosted Khatron Ke Khiladi as the numero uno last week, while Sonakshi Sinha is judging a devotional music show Om Shanti Om.
These stars, however, come at a hefty price. They charge anything between Rs 1 crore to Rs 6 crore for one episode! And, yet, channels go all out to rope in the biggest stars for their non-fiction shows because their mere presence elevates the brand value of the show. And if the combination clicks, then there is no looking back. Salman has been hosting Bigg Boss for seven seasons now, Bachchan is the face of KBC since the beginning except for one season where Shah Rukh had taken over. And it goes without saying that with every season, the remuneration has increased. Here, we take a look at the money these stars are pocketing for lending their names to shows.
Salman Khan
Show: Bigg Boss 11
Paycheck: Rs 11 crores per day (two episodes)
The superstar has hosted seven consecutive seasons — he started with the fourth season of the controversial reality show that has so far aired a total of 10. The promos of the 11th season with Salman have already raised curiosity on what it will entail for its fans. Meanwhile, we hear, Dabangg Khan, who earned nine crores per day for two episodes in the last season will take home Rs 11 crores this time. He shoots only once a week, every Saturday in which the makers record two episodes. His irreverent style of hosting, wry sense of humour and banter with the contestants, even when he pulls them up in case of wrongdoing, have endeared him to the viewers. No wonder, the channel refuses to let him go, despite the huge remuneration. It’s a different thing that every year, there are murmurs of him not doing the show and another actor replacing him, but Salman remains the big boss!
Shah Rukh Khan
Show: Ted Talks India, Nayi Soch
Paycheck: Rs 30 crores for 10 episodes
King Khan returns to television with the Indian version of the international format Ted Talks as the host. A source says that Shah Rukh was the first and last choice to host the show. Says a source, “The original makers of the show were clear that they wanted only SRK to host the show. Not only that, he is the only Indian film actor to have delivered a TED Talk when he flew to Vancouver early this year. His motivational speech was heartwarming, inspiring and peppered with a dash of humour. Who better than him to curate the show here?” Needless to say, the channel was ready to dole out whatever the superstar demanded. Also, it will be a niche show, informative and motivational unlike the other reality shows and will have limited episodes.
Amitabh Bachchan
Show: Kaun Banega Crorepati 9
Paycheck: Rs 2.75 to Rs 3 crore per episode
He was the first A-list actor to host a TV show, KBC, back in 2000. The show revolutionised television viewing, and Bachchan’s charisma and warm banter with the contestants made it a winner. Even in its ninth season, it’s Bachchan’s unbeatable energy and enthusiasm that continue to be the highlight of the show and it’s not surprising that Big B charges around Rs 3 crore for it. Earlier, the millenium star would get Rs 2 crore, but now that the show is back after three years, the fees have increased.
Akshay Kumar
Show: The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 5
Paycheck: Rs 1.65 crore per episode
The Khiladi returns to TV after three years with this comedy show and the busy actor will be shooting eight hours a day, once a week. Says a source, “The makers wanted a big name from Bollywood to judge the show and among the A-list actors he is the only one with several comedy films to his credit. So, he is apt for the show.” The superstar has so far hosted an action-adventure show, Khatron Ke Khiladi, a cookery show, MasterChef India and a dance adventure show Dare 2 Dance. On TV, this is his first stint with comedy, and the channel is counting on this entertainer for eyeballs.
Sonakshi Sinha
Show: Om Shanti Om
Paycheck: Rs 75 lakhs-Rs 1 crore
She made her TV debut as the judge of Indian Idol Junior. She was next seen on the panel of Nach Baliye 8 and now the actress is judging a bhajan reality show. Says a source, “It was when she was approached for Nach Baliye that the makers had spoken to her about this bhajan show. It was to be aired on the revamped Life OK channel and at that time only, she had agreed.” Considering her last few releases haven’t fared well at the box office, Sona has found the best way to be in the limelight as well as make money.
Ranveer Singh
Show: Om Shanti Om
Paycheck: Rs 2 crore for a day
No, he is not hosting or judging the show, he was only the sutradhar in the opening two episodes. This, however, was his first show and the makers had no issues with his huge remuneration as they were banking on him to pull in the audiences.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra
Show: Super Dancer 2
Paycheck: Rs 50 lakhs per episode
This Bollywood actress is a veteran when it comes to TV. From judging to hosting to being a contestant, Shilpa has done it all. She was on the panel of several shows including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Nach Baliye — she even hosted Bigg Boss 2, and later participated as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother. Shilpa, who judged Super Dancer last year, is back as part of the jury in the second season. The glam diva is sought-after on the small screen and makes the most of it.
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