There are times when I am not fond of Bigg Boss: Salman Khan

Salman Khan is all set to host the 11th season of Bigg Boss.

In 2010, superstar Salman Khan took on the hosting duty of Bigg Boss, one show that satiates the audience’s appetite for gossip and slander, even if it is later criticised for being crass, loud and controversial.

Over Salman’s seven year-association with the equally loved and hated show, apart from the headline-making controversies, the one thing that has been a constant is the actor’s threat to leave the show, season after season.

It has become a routine of sorts for the Tubelight actor to announce midway on a season that “he won’t return for the show,” and leave people speculating about its new probable host only to come back for the next season.

He is, unsurprisingly, returning with the show’s 11th installment after making the same claim last year. So, is it just the enormous pay hike that brings him back to the show, which only adds to his already long list (and headache) of ‘clarifications to make to media’ owing to the rows that the show rakes up? The answer is no, if someone asks Colors CEO Raj Nayak. Salman has reportedly been signed for Rs 11 crore per episode this season. But Nayak says, “That’s too cheap for Salman.”

As for the star, (who obviously stayed mum at the question of pay hike, asked to him today during press conference of the show) it is the sweet-bitter relationship that he has made with the show that doesn’t let him let go of it, despite experiencing some testing moments while hosting it.

“It’s the love-hate relationship on the show that that brings me back to it. There are times when I love the show, then there are times when I am not that fond of it. But I do feel that there’s no show better than Bigg Boss on Indian television right now. So many people watch and love it,” the 52-year-old said.

The new season, going on air from October 1, is themed around the centuries-old adage “Love thy neighbour”. Celebrity contestants, in groups, will be living in separate houses and keeping an eye on each other. According to the show’s host, this year’s concept will make it tough for contestants to survive.