Rishi Negi on Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss Role: Dismisses Earpiece Claims, Praises His Involvement

Bigg Boss keeps drawing public attention with its mix of on-screen drama and off-camera chatter — and Season 19 is no different. One persistent talking point has been the news reports suggesting Salman Khan earns between ₹150 and ₹200 crore per season, along with speculation that he is prompted on what to say during the weekend episodes.

Producer Addresses the Buzz

Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India producer Rishi Negi recently weighed in on these discussions surrounding the show.

While he would not confirm any specific sum, Negi noted,

“That agreement is directly between him and JioHotstar, so I don’t have the details. Whatever people say about the figure, I believe he earns it. Having him headline the weekend slot makes me very content.”

On Allegations of Salman Being Coached

Questions about whether Salman is fed lines or guided through an earpiece drew a wry response from Negi.

“Anyone who knows Salman understands you can’t make him voice something he doesn’t genuinely feel, can you?” he commented.

Negi explained that Salman keeps himself informed about the show and forms his own viewpoints.

“Salman tries to keep up with episodes. If he misses them, he watches an hour or two of footage with us over the weekend to catch up on the main developments. He also hears from friends and viewers, so he stays well-versed in what’s going on,” the producer added.

A Collaborative Weekend Process

Negi described the weekend instalments as the outcome of a collaborative rhythm between Salman, the creative team and audience reactions.

“He brings his perspective on right and wrong, we bring our creative framing, and viewer feedback keeps shaping the final product. That’s how the weekend episodes take form,” he said.

Negi ultimately dismissed the idea of Salman being read lines or steered covertly, choosing instead to highlight the star’s active role in shaping the show’s tone each weekend. Though he remained discreet about the rumored ₹150 crore figure, he reaffirmed that Salman’s involvement and oversight make him, in Negi’s words, “worth every penny.”