For years, TV was shunned by Bollywood stars because they thought it was too small for them. That notion has been turned on its head with the immense popularity of cable TV and HD Televisions. TV now spells big bucks, and the who’s who in Bollywood is competing for screen space. This edition, Corporate Citizen brings to you the highest paid movie stars on Television
The original Dhak Dhak girl of Bollywood is one of the highest paid celebrities. Her comeback innings on the silver screen may not have worked as well as she may have hoped, but Madhuri is more than making up for it in her television stint. Madhuri was reportedly paid Rs. 1 crore per episode as a judge on Jhalak Dikhha Jaa, which is a staggering amount by any standards.
Salman Khan takes the crown as the highest paid Bollywood star on TV. It is no secret that most people watch Big Boss for Salman Khan’s presence rather than the actual contestants. The Superstar, who’s facilitated Big Boss for six straight years, is reportedly being paid Rs. 8-9 crore for every episode for the latest season of the popular reality show. Every season has around 25-26 episodes, so Salman will likely we walking off with a cool Rs. 200 crore by the end of the season.
Kaun Banega Crorepati resurrected Amitabh Bachchan’s failing movie career in the early 2000s and sent it souring to new heights. In the first season of the show, Bachchan charged a paltry (in retrospect) Rs. 25 lakh per episode. In 2013, his fee increased to Rs. 3-3.5 crore per episode. He is the first Indian actor in their seventies who is able to command such a premium price , which is unprecedented in Bollywood history.
Aamir Khan has captured the imagination of the country with his thought provoking and socially progressive show Satyameva Jayate. For his work on the show, Aamir Khan gets paid Rs. 3 crore per episode. Aamir says that amount is less than his usual fee and he would earn more if he did ads, but chose to do the show instead.
In 2011 Hrithik made his TV debut by agreeing to become a judge on the dance reality show ‘Just Dance’. He charged an eye-popping Rs. 2 crore per episode, which was the highest celebrity payment for a dance show. Hrithik is known as the best dancer in Bollywood, and if he is coming on TV, he certainly won’t come cheap.
Everyone knows Shah Rukh Khan started his career with TV—the hugely successful Fauji and Circus. Yet King Khan has not been received too well as the host on not one, but three reality shows—KBC Season 3, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? and Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout. However, SRK’s fee went up with each show. In 2011, he charged Rs. 2.5 crore for Zor Ka Jhatka..., an Indian adaptation of the American reality show Wipeout.
By Neeraj Varty
