Highest Salaries On Indian TV: What Salman Khan, Kapil Sharma And Rupali Ganguly Earn Per Episode
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From Salman Khan to Rupali Ganguly, here's what India's top TV stars earn per episode or season—revealing the most shocking salaries in television today.
Television remains one of the most powerful mediums of entertainment in India, reaching millions of households across urban and rural areas alike. With its unmatched accessibility and variety of content—from daily soaps and reality shows to news and game shows—TV continues to be the go-to source of entertainment for people of all ages. Whether it's a small village or a bustling metro city, the influence of television is widespread, making it an integral part of daily life for countless families. This massive reach has also turned TV stars into household names and, increasingly, into some of the highest-paid celebrities in the country.
It is, certainly, no longer the poor cousin of Bollywood. In today's entertainment industry, some of the biggest paydays are happening not on the silver screen, but on your TV sets.
While a Rs 100 crore paycheck was once the stuff of film star dreams, reality and daily soap stars are now cashing in just as big—sometimes in a matter of weeks. And leading the pack by a huge margin is none other than Salman Khan.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Salman Khan became the highest-paid Indian TV personality in 2024 by charging Rs 60 crore per month for Bigg Boss 18. 'He earned approximately Rs 250 crore for the 15-week season," the source revealed. And with Bigg Boss 19 and Bigg Boss OTT 4 expected soon, there's talk that 'Salman may hike his fee even further in 2025."
But he's not the only one earning big on the small screen. Kapil Sharma also made headlines by reportedly earning Rs 60 crore for Season 1 of The Great Indian Kapil Show. Meanwhile, veteran icon Amitabh Bachchan took home between Rs 4 crore and Rs 5 crore per episode for the last season of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
On the female front, Anupamaa lead Rupali Ganguly leads the charts, reportedly drawing Rs 3 lakh per episode—making her the highest-paid actress on Indian television.
Social media influencer-turned-TV-star Jannat Zubair is not far behind either. She is said to have earned around Rs 18 lakh per episode for Khatron Ke Khiladi, and Rs 2 lakh per episode for her stint on Laughter Challenge.
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