No one can deny his star power on the big screen. But even as Salman Khan returns for the third consecutive season of Bigg Boss today, we hear that his pay packet for the small screen too has gone up significantly.
After taking home Rs. 2.8 – Rs. 3 crore per episode last year, the actor will pocket a cool Rs. 3.8 to Rs. 4 crore per episode this time around. The earlier season had seen Sanjay Dutt play co-host as Salman was either busy shooting for Ek Tha Tiger or coping with his illness. This time, however, the star will be present from the start to finish and is being paid big bucks for this commitment.
Incidentally, this also makes Salman the highest-paid Bollywood actor on the tube, followed by Aamir Khan (Satyamev Jayate, Rs. 3 crore per episode), Shah Rukh Khan (Total Wipeout: Zor Ka Jhatka,Rs. 2 crore per episode), Hrithik Roshan (Just Dance, Rs. 2 crore per episode), and Akshay Kumar (Khatron Ke Khiladi season four, Rs. 1.5 crore per episode). Amitabh Bachchan, though, is in a different league altogether. He has signed a whopping deal of Rs. 100 crore for three seasons of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Bigg Boss is close to Salman. His family loves it and he is aware of its popularity. A source close to the show says, “Salman relates to Bigg Boss because of the concept and its appeal. He appreciates the fact that the show allows people who are usually misunderstood to prove themselves in the house. The public too loves watching his real side and he gets a chance to meet people from all walks of life. The fact that he insisted that the show become family-oriented and air at 9 pm, shows his involvement and interest in it.”
