Bigg Boss Season 9 Tamil has taken Tamil Nadu by storm once again, with Vijay Sethupathi back at the helm, delivering sharp wit and calm authority amid the chaos and controversies inside the house. As the season races toward its finale (around mid-January 2026), fans are glued to the drama, tasks, evictions, and those iconic cash box moments.
But there’s a quieter spectator watching every task and tantrum. The Taxman.
Behind the shouting matches and standing ovations lies a sophisticated money ecosystem where crores are earned, split, structured, and inevitably taxed. Let’s step inside the real Bigg Boss game: who earns what, and how much of it actually stays with them. [P.S: This article has reference to Bigg Boss Season 9 Tamil telecasted in JioHotstar and Vijay TV]
How Bigg Boss Season 9 Actually Makes Money?
Bigg Boss is not merely a TV show; it’s a monetisation marathon running across screens, brands, and platforms. The Bigg Boss franchise rakes in crores through premium ad slots (up to ₹25 lakh for 30 seconds in past seasons), sponsorships, product placements, digital streaming on JioHotstar, and voting fees. Production costs, including the house set and shoots, run really high (historically ₹70 crore+ per season), but these cost are mere dwarves in front of the revenue generated by the show.
High TRPs make ad slots super expensive. Brands pay premium rates for spots during episodes, plus massive sponsorship deals. Industry estimates put combined TV + OTT revenues in the ₹300-350 crore range for the overall franchise (Estimates as per various sources). Streaming on JioHotstar (with 24/7 live feeds) adds digital revenue through subscriptions, ads, and exclusive content. The JioStar merger has boosted cross-platform earnings as well. Voting via apps/missed calls, brand integrations, and post-show buzz (endorsements for contestants) fuel extra income.
Hosts (like Actor Vijay Sethupathi) are normally contracted as independent professionals or through their personal companies. Public reports show Season 9-level host pay in the multi-crore band. That makes the absolute tax very large: a ₹5–75 crore fee will attract crores in tax. The exact structuring (personal company, tax planning, non-compete clauses, artwork rights) influences actual net take-home.
Contestants can receive weekly appearance fees, task/prize money (money boxes, challenge payouts), and sometimes sponsored perks or product placements. Media reports around Season 9 list weekly contestant fees in the ₹1–2 lakh per week band for based on the popularity of some names. Winner / prize takers take away final cash prize, winning gifts (car, sponsor cheques), or cash boxes taken during tasks.
Taxation of Gaming Shows
Reality shows like Bigg Boss mix entertainment with competition. Indian law treats winnings alike lottery resulting in TDS, upfront, no relief. It plugs leaks in high-visibility cash spectacles, ensuring the government shares the spotlight. Prize money and cash boxes count as “Income from Other Sources” under Section 115BB. Flat 30% tax + 4% cess = 31.2% effective, with TDS deducted at source (Section 194B) if over ₹10,000 at equivalent rate. Zero deductions, no exemptions.
However, the daily appearance fee earned by the contestant may also be treated as professional payments to “actors” appearing on the show. Any payment exceeding Rs. 30,000/- attracting TDS at 10%. The contestants are rumored to have an average appearance fee of Rs. 25,000/- per day, making TDS almost inevitable. Taxation of the same depends on the individual tax slabs.
The show thrives on unpredictability but taxation is the one predictable force.
🔗Also See: Navigating the Maze: Understanding Online Gaming Tax in India
The Bigg Boss game in Numbers
The Cash Box
The Bigg Boss Season 9 (Tamil) recently saw Gana Vinoth walking away with ₹18 lakh from the cash box task.
As revealed by the contestant himself on stage, it takes about 45 days for the money to be credited to the contestant.
But when the money actually arrives, the actual credit in the bank account would be ₹12.60 lakh (Net of TDS u/s 194B).
The Sponsor Gifts and Task Winnings
The sponsor gifts as well as the task winnings are still considered to be “winnings from a gaming show” and will be taxable under Section 115BB and subject to TDS under Section 194B.
However all such winnings need not necessarily be in cash. Many tasks reward in the form of vouchers, gift-hampers.
Where the winnings are in kind, the section expressly provides that in a case where the winnings are wholly in kind and the part in cash is not sufficient to meet the liability of deduction of tax in respect of whole of the winnings, the person responsible for paying shall, before releasing the winnings, ensure that tax has been paid in respect of the winnings. In other words, the same shall be recovered from the winner before handing over the winnings.
The Ultimate Winner
With the Big Finale of Bigg Boss Season 9 slated to happen in a few days, the cash prize for the Ultimate Winner is often discussed in the show. As per the discussions, it is revealed that the winner pockets ₹ 50 lakh.
This again will be considered to be “winnings from a gaming show” and will be taxable under Section 115BB and subject to TDS under Section 194B.
Though the Winner pockets ₹ 50 lakh, a sum of ₹ 15.60 lakh lands in the government’s kitty as TDS while the balance of ₹ 34.40 lakh is credited to the bank account of the winner. Though the TDS credit is available to the winner to be claimed in the Return of Income, the winning is treated as Other Source Income (taxable at special rates) on which no deduction is available.
Therefore, the TDS covers the tax payable by the winner and there’s no other benefit in respect of the TDS deducted.
Appearance Fee
Apart from the above, every contestant is paid a regular appearance fee for appearing on the show. Many get paid per day and some on a per week basis with the average payment to be romoured around ₹ 25,000 per day to ₹ 2 lakh per week. However, this is a grey area inviting varied tax treatment implications.
While some suggest the fee to be treated on par with remuneration paid to TV artists (as Business or Profession), some suggest that any income from a game show is a winning from the game show and should be treated as a “winning from game show”.
The taxation on the same will depend on the wordings used in the agreements signed by the contestants before entering the show.
The Host
Hosting Bigg Boss is less about screen time and more about star gravity.
For Season 9, Vijay Sethupathi reportedly commands a fee in the ₹70–75 crore range, reflecting his mass appeal and credibility.
- Income is treated as professional income
- Subject to TDS u/s 194J
- Final tax payable depends on slab rates, surcharge, and cess
At that income level, effective tax rates can cross 40% after surcharge.
However, structuring through companies helps, but even then, the cheque written to the government is comfortably in double-digit crores.
The host anchors the show and pulls the audience while the taxman anchors the invoice and takes out the bigger chunk.
The Channel, telecasters and the Production Company
The channel (Star Vijay) earns primarily from ad sales and broadcast rights, while the production company (Banijay, formerly Endemol Shine India) handles production, format licensing, and shares in sponsorships and digital revenues.
For broadcasters and producers, Bigg Boss is a business asset while all the income from streaming and ad sources will be treated as core business revenues.
The revenue will be subject to tax deductions under Sections 194C (from advertisers), 194J (royalties or professional payments) etc.
However the tax payable by these companies will be subject to expenses incurred. Total tax will be payable on the net profits of the company.
Final Take: Real Bigg Boss – The Taxman
Reality shows like Bigg Boss blur entertainment and “gaming” elements. Winnings are treated like lotteries/game show prizes. No mercy for drama endured! It ensures the government gets its share from these high-stakes spectacles.
In the end, Bigg Boss Season 9 isn’t just about who survives the house. It’s a masterclass in money, fame, and taxes. Contestants chase the trophy (and cash), the channel/production rake in crores from ads and eyeballs, the host banks superstar fees, but everyone pays their dues to taxes. Next time you watch a heated argument or epic task, remember: the real winners are those who navigate the drama and the deductions wisely.
What do you think? Is the prize worth the tax hit, or is the real jackpot the fame afterward?
Drop your thoughts below!
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. References to Bigg Boss, Bigg Boss Season 9 Tamil, related visuals, names, logos, and screenshots are based on publicly available content and are used under fair use for commentary and analysis. The author does not own or claim any rights over trademarks, copyrights, or intellectual property associated with the show or its creators. All figures mentioned are indicative and based on media reports. This is not legal or tax advice.
For more interesting articles and contents
Visit TaxRoutine Blogs.
Such a thoughtful article!! Afterall seeing only the one side of it such as, dramas and emotions, this clearly awakens what actually is happening behind the screens.
There were two places, where the article was mindblowing.
1. These costs are mere “dwarves” in front of the revenue generated by the show.
The word inside double quotes was absolute Claass. Using the knowledge acquired at the right moment and right place is what something which differentiates people to success and growth. Really loved the use of that word there. Though the word was not new, I learnt how this can be used.
2. On discussing about the appearance fees, regarding it’s taxability, the way in which that was addressed, was another masterpiece. It was not a straight answer. Yet, it was not a ” covering it up like ” a kind of answer. It was a perfect answer. Liked the way in which it was dealt.
Wow anna..!!🧐that’s a super detailed breakdown of the money game in Bigg Boss Tamil 💸 When the dram’s high, but the taxes are higher…🤣🤣
The taxman’s definitely the real winner here 💯💯🤣🤣