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Bigg Boss 19 producer answers if Salman Khan watches show before appearing on Weekend ka Vaar: ‘He watches an hour or two of footage…’

Bigg Boss 19 producer Rishi Negi addressed the reports around the host Salman Khan's Rs 150 crore fees and alleged biases.

Bigg Boss 19 producer Rishi Negi addressed the reports around Salman Khan's Rs 150 crore fees (Photo: Jio Hotstar)

Salman Khan‘s remuneration for hosting the reality show Bigg Boss is a subject of conversations every season. This year too, several recent reports suggested that the actor charges between Rs 120-150 crore for hosting the season 19. However, in a recent interview, Bigg Boss 19 producer Rishi Negi (Banijay Asia and EndemolShine India) opened up around the superstar’s salary buzz. He also addressed about the long-standing allegations against Salman of being biased towards certain contestants during the weekend ka vaar episodes.

During a chat with India Today, Rishi revealed that the actor does watch the footages before hosting the ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ episodes. “So, Salman does try to catch episodes, obviously. If he is not able to watch, he watches an hour or two of footage with us on the weekend, to go through all the big points that have happened in the house. So, he sees all of them being played out. He also has a lot of people who he knows watch the show, who call him, and give him feedback,” he said.

The producer added, “So, he has a huge buy-in on what’s happening in the house, what’s happening with the contestant. He has a point of view. We, as the creators of the show, have a point of view in terms of how we are viewing it. 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.”

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While talking about the accusations against Salman repeating only what is told to him by the production team, he asserted, “Whoever knows Salman Khan, it’s not possible to make him say anything that he doesn’t believe in, right? He has his own point of view on whether that particular thing is right or wrong. We discuss, debate, and then we go on the floor.”

Rishi was also asked about the constant buzz around Salman’s fees for hosting the show, reportedly in ranging from Rs 150-200 crore every season. Without confirming or denying the figure, he replied, “This contract is between him and JioHotstar, so I am not privy to that. 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.”

Every season, Salman Khan claims that he wouldn’t host the reality show anymore. Speaking about the same, Rishi shared, “But I think now even he has a huge emotional connection with this show. And that you see it playing out when he is on stage because, you know, the way he gets involved in a discussion or the way he gets involved in a mudda (issue), as we call it, is because it comes from within.”

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“I think, while you know, some seasons that he has been, like, I can’t do any more, I think till now we have been lucky that he has always said yes. But much before we go on the floor, we go sit with him, talk to him, brief him on the broadcasting that we are doing, all of that,” he concluded.

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