Big B on Bigg Boss

Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan gestures as he speaks with media representatives at the announcement of the dates for the Bigg Boss television series in Mumbai. (Photo: AP)

Amitabh Bachchan had made headlines earlier also when he decided to host Kaun Banega Crorepati in early 2000 and this time too the veteran actor surprised fans when he said yes to Season 3 of the controversial reality show. (Photo: AFP)

The fact that Big B is now also officially the highest paid presenter on TV, is sure to add to the buzz surrounding his return. (Photo: AP)

He has been brought in as a replacement for Shilpa Shetty on Bigg Boss. (Photo: AFP)

The Shahenshah of Bollywood will take home Rs 1.5 crore per episode. Multiply that by 84 episodes and what you get is a staggering Rs 126 crore paycheque for Bachchan. (Photo: AFP)

Other Bollywood superstars who have made a foray into television, did not rake in quite as much. (Photo: AFP)

It's a new high even for Big B himself. For Bigg Boss, he is being paid nearly twice of what he got for Kaun Banega Crorepati. (Photo: AFP)

There's an important difference between then and now. When KBC happened, the Bachchan brand was at its lowest ebb. Today the actor is among the country's top five celebrity endorsers. (Photo: AFP)

If Shilpa Shetty with her minor fan following and no films to promote could get Bigg Boss a 2.2 TRP, Bachchan with his enormous brand value and at least nine releases in the pipeline, could certainly better that. Or at least that's what the show's producers would be hoping for. (Photo: AFP)