Salman Khan To Kapil Sharma: Here’s How Much Reality Show Hosts Charge In India, Know Who’s Highest Paid!

The biggest faces on Indian TV are back, and so is the curiosity about their massive paychecks. From Amitabh Bachchan’s quiz show dominance to Salman Khan’s drama-filled weekends and Kapil Sharma’s comedy empire, hosting fees have reached jaw-dropping levels this year. So, who’s the highest-paid reality show host in India right now? Let’s break it down.

Amitabh Bachchan Tops The Chart With KBC 17, Salman Khan Next?

If reports are to be believed, Amitabh Bachchan is charging Rs 5 crore per episode for Kaun Banega Crorepati 17. Since the show airs five times a week, this means the legendary host takes home around Rs 25 crore weekly, making him the highest-paid reality show host in India.

Salman Khan reportedly earns Rs 12 crore per Weekend Ka Vaar episode, adding up to Rs 24 crore weekly. Bigg Boss 19 is expected to start in late August, and the buzz around the new season is already picking up with contestant negotiations underway.

Kapil Sharma continues to dominate the comedy space with The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, reportedly charging Rs 5 crore per episode. Meanwhile, Karan Johar earns between Rs 2–3 crore per episode for Koffee With Karan, and Rohit Shetty takes home around Rs 50 lakh per episode for Khatron Ke Khiladi.

Why These Fees Keep Rising

High host recall drives ad pricing, brand integrations, and platform subscriptions. Multi‑platform clipping (TV + OTT + reels) gives evergreen value to charismatic hosts. Legacy trust (Bachchan), controversy pull (Salman), comfort comedy (Kapil), celeb gossip (KJo), and thrill spectacle (Rohit) each serve different audience buckets. Therefore, the fee keeps rising with every season.

Salman Khan in Bigg Boss, Big B in KBC or someone else - Which show and host is your most favourite?

Disclaimer: (We provided the base fee figures (Siasat.com ref for Bachchan; reported industry ranges for others).