Producer Rishi Negi discusses host Salman Khan’s involvement, the process behind the Weekend Ka Vaar episodes, and speculation surrounding the actor’s rumored ₹150-200 crore hosting fee for Bigg Boss 19.
Season 19 of the popular reality show Bigg Boss has once again placed host Salman Khan at the center of public discourse. Two major topics are dominating the conversation: the massive salary he supposedly receives and persistent accusations of bias towards certain contestants.
In an interview with India Today, Rishi Negi, a producer from Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, offered his perspective on both controversies.
The Question of Salman Khan’s Bias
Salman Khan has often faced accusations of being overly harsh with some contestants while being noticeably lenient or supportive of others (citing examples like Amaal Mallik and Kunickaa Sadanand).
Rishi Negi addressed this, outlining the process by which Salman prepares for the Weekend Ka Vaar episodes:
- Preparation: Salman “does try” to catch the episodes, and when he can’t watch all the footage, he reviews an hour or two of “big points” before filming. He also gathers feedback from people he knows personally who follow the show.
- A Unified Viewpoint: Negi emphasized that the final script for the weekend episode is a collaborative effort: “He has a point of view. We, as the creators of the show, have a point of view… We also have a lot of audience feedback that keeps pouring in. So, putting all of that together is how we stitch the weekend together.”
- Creative Control: The producer dismissed the notion that the team “feeds” Salman information via an earpiece, stating definitively that it is “not possible” to make Salman say anything he “doesn’t believe in.” Negi added that these accusations of bias are “nothing new” for the show.
Salary Speculation: Is He Paid ₹150-200 Crore?
Regarding the rampant rumors that Salman Khan earns between ₹150-200 crore per season to host Bigg Boss, Rishi Negi chose not to confirm any specific figure.
Instead, he stated that the contract is between the actor and JioHotstar, making him “not privy to that.” However, he firmly defended the actor’s value to the show: “But whatever the rumour is, whatever it is, he is worth every penny. For me, as long as he is there on my weekend, I am a happy person.”
Salman Khan’s Hosting History
Salman Khan’s long association with Bigg Boss began in Season 4. While he shared hosting duties with Sanjay Dutt in Season 5, he has since hosted the show solo for the majority of the subsequent seasons. Other iterations of the show have been hosted by figures like Farah Khan, Karan Johar, and Anil Kapoor.