Salman Khan and Bigg Boss: India’s favourite TV host

Every autumn millions of Indian families settle down at the weekend to watch Salman Khan take contestants to task, crack jokes and occasionally lose his temper on Bigg Boss. He has hosted the reality show since its fourth season in 2010, and for many viewers he is now inseparable from it.

What is Bigg Boss?

Bigg Boss is the Indian version of the international format Big Brother. A group of celebrities — and sometimes members of the public — live together in a specially built house for about three months. Cameras record them around the clock. The unseen “Bigg Boss”, a voice, sets tasks and enforces rules. Each week viewers vote, and contestants are evicted until a winner remains.

The first season aired in 2006, hosted by Arshad Warsi. Shilpa Shetty and Amitabh Bachchan hosted the next two seasons.

Salman arrives, 2010

Salman Khan took over for the fourth season in October 2010. His presence transformed the show’s popularity. He brought star power, humour and a reputation for speaking his mind.

He has hosted every season of the main Hindi show since then, sometimes sharing duties with other presenters for a few episodes, making him one of the longest-serving hosts on Indian television.

Weekend Ka Vaar

Khan’s main appearances come in the weekend episodes known as “Weekend Ka Vaar”. In these he:

• reviews the week’s fights and tasks;
• praises or scolds contestants;
• announces evictions;
• welcomes guest stars promoting their films.

These episodes often get the highest ratings of the week, and clips of his reactions spread quickly on social media.

His hosting style

Viewers enjoy his mix of humour and toughness. He often defends contestants he feels are treated unfairly and openly criticises bad behaviour. Critics sometimes say he takes sides, which only adds to the debate around the show.

Bigg Boss 19 and what’s next

Bigg Boss 19 ended in December 2025, with television actor Gaurav Khanna named the winner. Khan is widely expected to return as host for Bigg Boss 20, though full details of the new season have not yet been officially confirmed.

He has also hosted Bigg Boss OTT, a streaming spin-off, on JioCinema.

Why the show works

1. Celebrity drama. Viewers see stars without filters.
2. Interactive voting. Audiences feel involved in the outcome.
3. The host. Khan’s weekend episodes give the season a sense of event.

Earnings and business

Reports regularly suggest he is among the highest-paid hosts on Indian television, though Colors TV and the production company do not publish official figures.

Being Human

Khan founded the Being Human Foundation in 2007. It works mainly in education and healthcare, funding schooling, medical treatment and other programmes for people in need. The Being Human clothing brand, launched in 2012, sells apparel and accessories and passes part of its earnings to the foundation.

Khan also speaks often about fitness, and the Being Human name has been used on other products such as electric bicycles.

Television and stardom

Television has helped keep Khan close to his audience between films. While many film stars appear only in cinemas, he enters living rooms every weekend for several months a year. That regular contact has helped make him one of the most familiar faces in India.

The verdict

More than 15 years after he first walked into the Bigg Boss house as host, Khan remains the show’s biggest draw. For millions of fans, the start of a new season — and the first Weekend Ka Vaar — is as big an event as any film release.