Salman Khan is currently busy hosting the 20th season of Bigg Boss, but in a recent Weekend Ka Vaar episode, the superstar took a trip down memory lane to discuss his journey in television. While encouraging contestants to shed their inhibitions and show their true personalities, Salman reflected on his own initial hesitation to step into the reality TV space back in 2008. The actor admitted that at the time, he was surrounded by immense negativity in the media, ranging from court cases to rumors about his personal life and films, which made him reluctant to face the camera on a game show.
Recalling that challenging period, Salman shared that he was ready to turn down the offer to host Dus Ka Dum because of the constant public scrutiny. He eventually turned to his father, legendary screenwriter Salim Khan, for advice. Salim Khan encouraged him to trust his upbringing and take the leap, telling him to simply show the audience who he really was. Taking his father’s counsel to heart, Salman decided to proceed, and the result was a complete transformation of his public perception.
According to Salman, the show allowed audiences to look past his film roles and connect with him as a real person. He noted that the media-created narrative surrounding him was effectively cleared in just one episode. Comparing his experience to Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic run on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the actor explained that Dus Ka Dum helped viewers see the man behind the superstar. Since that successful stint, Salman has become the face of reality television in India, consistently leading the Bigg Boss franchise for over a decade.