Film Stars Who Became TV Hosts As Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit And Samantha Ruth Prabhu Join List

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Aug 18, 2026 17:21 IST ⓘ

As Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit and Samantha Ruth Prabhu turn hosts, a look at stars who did it before them.

The line separating film stardom from television has all but disappeared. Once considered an unconventional career move for established actors, hosting a television or streaming show now gives stars an opportunity to reach viewers inside their homes, reveal their unscripted personalities and build a connection that movies cannot always provide. From quiz shows and celebrity interviews to high-pressure reality competitions, some of India’s biggest film personalities have successfully carried their charisma from the big screen to the host’s chair.

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The trend is back in the spotlight as Ajay Devgn prepares to join ‘Crime Patrol 2026 – Crime Ka Current Season’. Premiering on August 31, 2026 at 10:30 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV, the crime docudrama will present stories inspired by real cases. Ajay’s association feels fitting given his commanding performances as law-enforcement officers in films such as ‘Singham’, ‘Gangaajal’ and ‘Drishyam’. However, contrary to initial reports, he is not permanently replacing Anup Soni. Ajay will appear as a special host for a select number of episodes.

Madhuri Dixit, meanwhile, is returning to hosting after 24 years with the forthcoming season of ‘Kon Honar Crorepati’, the Marathi adaptation of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. The game show will air on Sony Marathi and stream on Sony LIV, although its premiere date has not yet been announced. Sachin Khedekar hosted several previous seasons, while Swapnil Joshi and Mahesh Manjrekar have also fronted the programme. This will not be Madhuri’s first hosting assignment: she previously presented Sony Entertainment Television’s matrimonial reality show ‘Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai’ in 2002 and later appeared alongside Sanjeev Kapoor in ‘Food Food Maha Challenge’ in 2011.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu is also stepping into a new space with ‘Celebrity MasterChef Tamil’. Produced by Banijay Asia, the Tamil adaptation of the international culinary competition will feature celebrities facing cooking challenges rooted in regional flavours and culture. It will be available on Sony VIZHA and Sony LIV, with its premiere date and contestant line-up yet to be revealed. Samantha has some hosting experience already: she temporarily took charge of a special extended episode of ‘Bigg Boss Telugu 4’ in 2020 and subsequently hosted the eight-episode celebrity talk show ‘Sam Jam’. However, ‘Celebrity MasterChef Tamil’ will be her first sustained reality-competition hosting role.

As these three stars prepare to bring their personalities to very different unscripted formats, here is a look at the biggest Bollywood and South Indian film personalities who became television and streaming hosts before them.

Without further ado, check out the list here:

1. Amitabh Bachchan - Kaun Banega Crorepati And Bigg Boss

Amitabh Bachchan changed the relationship between Bollywood and television when ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ premiered on Star Plus on July 3, 2000. Adapted from ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, the quiz show combined knowledge with contestants’ personal stories. Its first season became a cultural phenomenon, helped revive Big B’s career and made phrases such as “computer ji” part of everyday conversation.

Except for the third season, Big B has remained the face of ‘KBC’, which moved to Sony Entertainment Television in 2010 and later added streaming on Sony LIV. Amitabh Bachchan also hosted ‘Bigg Boss 3’ on Colors in 2009, adopting a comparatively restrained and empathetic approach to the reality format.

2. Salman Khan - 10 Ka Dum And Bigg Boss

Salman Khan made his television-hosting debut with the game show ‘10 Ka Dum’ on Sony Entertainment Television in 2008. He hosted its first two seasons in 2008 and 2009 before returning for a revival in 2018. The show did not always dominate ratings, but Salman’s humour and easy interaction with ordinary contestants earned him major television-hosting awards.

His defining television role began with ‘Bigg Boss 4’ on Colors in 2010. Salman’s weekend episodes – built around humour, reprimands, confrontations and commentary on contestants’ behaviour –eventually became the franchise’s biggest attraction. Except for limited interruptions and co-hosting arrangements, he has remained its principal Hindi host ever since. ‘Bigg Boss 19’ reportedly reached 133 million television viewers, becoming the show’s most-watched season on Colors and JioHotstar.

3. Shah Rukh Khan - KBC, Paanchvi Pass And More

SRK took over ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 3’ from Amitabh Bachchan in January 2007 on Star Plus. He brought a more playful and informal personality to the hot seat, frequently hugging contestants and replacing Big B’s stern final-answer routine with his own charm. The season opened strongly but registered lower average ratings than Amitabh Bachchan’s first two editions, and the programme was subsequently revived with Big B in 2010.

Shah Rukh later hosted ‘Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?’ on Star Plus in 2008, ‘Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout’ on Imagine TV in 2011 and the idea-driven ‘TED Talks India Nayi Soch’ on Star Plus from 2017.

4. Akshay Kumar - Khatron Ke Khiladi, MasterChef And Wheel Of Fortune

Akshay Kumar became the first host of ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi’ when its Hindi edition launched on Colors in 2008. His action-star identity made him an ideal fit for the stunt show. He presented its first two seasons and returned for Season 4 in 2011. Akshay also led the inaugural season of ‘MasterChef India’ on Star Plus in 2010 and fronted the dance-and-stunt competition ‘Dare 2 Dance’ on Life OK in 2014.

In January 2026, he returned to television as the host of the Indian adaptation of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV. The puzzle-based game show used Akshay’s humour and improvisational energy to enliven the familiar international format, giving him another family-oriented programme.

5. Aamir Khan - Satyamev Jayate

Aamir Khan chose a different format for his television debut. ‘Satyamev Jayate’ premiered on Star Plus and DD National on May 6, 2012, with episodes examining female foeticide, child se**al abuse, caste discrimination, domestic violence, medical malpractice and other difficult subjects. Instead of functioning simply as an entertainer, Aamir interviewed survivors, activists and experts before concluding episodes with possible solutions.

The programme ran for three seasons between 2012 and 2014 and was simulcast across several Star channels. Its linear ratings fluctuated after a strong opening, but Star said the first season reached close to 49 crore Indians across its multi-channel telecast.

6. Karan Johar - Koffee With Karan, Bigg Boss OTT And The Traitors

Karan Johar turned celebrity conversation into appointment viewing with ‘Koffee With Karan’, which debuted on Star World on November 19, 2004. Its candid conversations, controversial revelations and popular rapid-fire round regularly generated headlines. The first six seasons aired on Star World, while the programme moved to Disney+ Hotstar as a streaming exclusive in 2022.

Karan also hosted the first season of ‘Bigg Boss OTT’ on Voot in 2021. Although his more theatrical style received mixed reactions from viewers accustomed to Salman Khan, the season generated substantial online conversation and established the digital spin-off before Salman and Anil Kapoor hosted later editions.

More recently, he became the host of Prime Video’s ‘The Traitors’, which premiered on June 12, 2025. The show was renewed following its successful debut. Karan returned for the second season, which premiered on Prime Video on August 13, 2026 with 21 new celebrity players.

7. Priyanka Chopra - Khatron Ke Khiladi

Priyanka Chopra stepped into a format previously led by Akshay Kumar when she hosted ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 3’ on Colors in September 2010. Shot in Brazil, the season featured 13 male contestants, including television actors, cricketers and models, undertaking physically demanding stunts.

Her edition registered a sensational opening-week rating of 5.5 TVR, surpassing the 4.4 rating recorded by the preceding season and giving the franchise its biggest opening at the time. She later hosted the YouTube interview series ‘If I Could Tell You Just One Thing’ in 2019.

8. Ranveer Singh - The Big Picture

Ranveer Singh made his television debut with ‘The Big Picture’, which premiered on Colors on October 16, 2021 and also streamed through Voot and Jio TV. The visual quiz tested contestants’ knowledge and memory through picture-based questions, offering a maximum prize of Rs 5 crore.

Ranveer brought his familiar exuberance, flamboyant wardrobe and emotional warmth to the programme, often turning contestant interactions into its liveliest moments. The show completed a 26-episode run in January 2022 but did not return for a second season.

9. Shilpa Shetty - Bigg Boss

After winning ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2007, Shilpa Shetty returned to the franchise from the opposite side of the equation. She hosted ‘Bigg Boss 2’, which aired on Colors in 2008. Her first-hand knowledge of the format gave her a distinctive position. The season was won by Ashutosh Kaushik and helped establish ‘Bigg Boss’ on its new home, Colors, after the inaugural season had aired on Sony. Shilpa later became far more closely associated with television judging through ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’, ‘Nach Baliye’, ‘Super Dancer’ and ‘India’s Got Talent’, but her ‘Bigg Boss’ stint remains her principal hosting assignment.

10. Arshad Warsi - Bigg Boss

Arshad Warsi was the original host of the Hindi ‘Bigg Boss’. The first season premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on November 3, 2006, introducing Indian audiences to a format in which celebrities lived under constant surveillance and faced public eviction.

Arshad approached the show with humour and a comparatively relaxed attitude, long before confrontational weekend hosting became a central part of the franchise. Rahul Roy won the season, which lasted until January 2007. Although Arshad did not return for later editions, he played an important role in establishing the Indian adaptation before Shilpa Shetty, Amitabh Bachchan and finally Salman Khan took over.

11. Anil Kapoor - Bigg Boss OTT 3

Anil Kapoor replaced Salman Khan as host of ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’, which premiered on JioCinema in June 2024. He attempted to distinguish his version through his signature energy and the “jhakaas” personality associated with his public image.

Sana Makbul won the edition in August 2024, while rapper Naezy finished second. Anil’s hosting received a mixed response, particularly because comparisons with Salman were unavoidable, but the programme kept him at the centre of online entertainment conversations throughout its run.

12. Riteish Deshmukh - Bigg Boss Marathi

Riteish Deshmukh replaced Mahesh Manjrekar as host of ‘Bigg Boss Marathi 5’, which premiered on Colors Marathi and JioCinema on July 28, 2024. His weekend segment, “Bhaucha Dhakka”, mixed sharp questioning with colloquial Marathi humour and quickly became popular. The season’s launch registered the franchise’s strongest premiere rating at the time.

Riteish returned for ‘Bigg Boss Marathi 6’ in January 2026 on Colors Marathi and JioHotstar. The sixth season attracted approximately 3.3 million viewers during its launch week, while its finale emerged as the highest-rated programme in the Marathi reality genre.

13. Preity Zinta - Guinness World Records And Up Close & Personal

Preity Zinta made her hosting debut with ‘Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega’, which premiered on Colors in March 2011. The show featured Indian participants attempting unusual and physically demanding world records, with Preity guiding viewers through the challenges. Its premiere registered a respectable 3.3 rating.

Later that year, she hosted celebrity interview series ‘Up Close & Personal with PZ’ on UTV Stars. The programme drew on her friendships within the film industry to create informal conversations with guests including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

14. Abhishek Bachchan - National Bingo Night

Abhishek Bachchan made his television debut as host of ‘National Bingo Night’, which premiered on Colors in January 2010. Adapted from an international format, the interactive game show allowed the studio audience and viewers at home to participate in rounds of bingo while celebrity guests provided entertainment.

Amitabh Bachchan appeared in the inaugural episode, while SRK, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar were among the later guests. The show completed a limited run of 13 episodes and was not renewed.

15. Nagarjuna - Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu And Bigg Boss Telugu

Nagarjuna made an enormously successful transition to television with ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu’, the Telugu adaptation of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. He hosted its first three seasons on Maa TV between 2014 and 2016.

He later replaced Nani as host of ‘Bigg Boss Telugu’ from Season 3 in 2019 and continued through subsequent television and OTT editions on Star Maa and Disney+ Hotstar, later JioHotstar. The third season’s finale registered 18.29 TVR, while the fourth season’s finale set another franchise record.

16. Chiranjeevi - Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu

Chiranjeevi succeeded Nagarjuna as host of ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu’ for its fourth season, which aired on Star Maa from February to May 2017. The programme tested contestants’ general knowledge while gradually increasing their prize money through questions modelled on the international millionaire format.

The season marked Chiranjeevi’s full-fledged television-hosting debut. However, he hosted only one season before the quiz show was eventually revived on Gemini TV with Jr NTR under the modified title ‘Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu’.

17. Jr NTR - Bigg Boss Telugu And Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu

Jr NTR made his hosting debut with the first season of ‘Bigg Boss Telugu’, which premiered on Star Maa on July 16, 2017. His command of Telugu, spontaneous humour and ability to firmly address contestants helped the show open with 16.18 TVR and become one of Telugu television’s most-watched programmes.

He returned to hosting in 2021 with ‘Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu’ on Gemini TV. The quiz show, which streamed through Sun NXT, combined knowledge with contestants’ aspirations and produced the Telugu franchise’s first Rs 1 crore winner.

18. Nani - Bigg Boss Telugu

Nani replaced Jr NTR as host of ‘Bigg Boss Telugu 2’, which premiered on Star Maa in June 2018. The season introduced common people alongside celebrities and ran for more than 100 days, with Kaushal Manda eventually emerging as the winner.

Nani adopted a friendly, conversational style and appeared more accessible than confrontational. The launch reportedly registered around 15 TVR. His hosting received mixed reactions, particularly during controversial evictions, and he chose not to return. Nagarjuna took over the programme from Season 3.

19. Rana Daggubati - No. 1 Yaari And The Rana Daggubati Show

Rana Daggubati’s relaxed conversational abilities found an ideal platform in ‘No. 1 Yaari with Rana’. The Telugu celebrity talk show began in 2017 and completed three seasons across Viu, Gemini TV and Aha. Rather than relying exclusively on promotional interviews, the programme explored friendships between actors and featured games, candid recollections and industry anecdotes.

Rana returned with ‘The Rana Daggubati Show’ on Prime Video in November 2024. The unscripted series blended conversations, activities and behind-the-scenes access with guests from Indian cinema. Its informal format and Rana’s industry relationships helped it feel less structured than a conventional chat show, earning it a positive audience response on the platform.

20. Nandamuri Balakrishna - Unstoppable With NBK

Nandamuri Balakrishna surprised viewers with the uninhibited and humorous personality he displayed on ‘Unstoppable with NBK’. The Telugu talk show premiered on Aha on November 4, 2021 and featured major film stars, filmmakers and political personalities in candid conversations.

The first season accumulated approximately 40 crore streaming minutes and was described by Aha as its most-watched programme. Its success led to multiple seasons and high-profile episodes featuring Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Pawan Kalyan and Ranbir Kapoor.

21. Kamal Haasan - Bigg Boss Tamil

Kamal Haasan hosted ‘Bigg Boss Tamil’ from its launch on Star Vijay in June 2017 through its seventh season. Episodes also streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. He brought a distinctive intellectual and political dimension to the reality format, frequently using literature, social history and current affairs to frame his conversations with contestants.

He also hosted the streaming spin-off ‘Bigg Boss Ultimate’ in 2022 before leaving midway because of film commitments. In August 2024, Kamal Haasan announced that he would take a break from the main programme after seven years. His weekend monologues and pointed interrogations became central to the identity of ‘Tamil Bigg Boss’.

22. Vijay Sethupathi - Namma Ooru Hero, MasterChef Tamil And Bigg Boss

Vijay Sethupathi first moved into hosting with socially driven talk show ‘Namma Ooru Hero’, which premiered on Sun TV in January 2019. The programme highlighted ordinary people creating positive change in their communities. He later hosted the inaugural Tamil season of ‘MasterChef India’ – Tamil on Sun TV and Sun NXT in 2021.

His biggest television assignment arrived when he replaced Kamal Haasan on ‘Bigg Boss Tamil 8’ in 2024. Vijay returned for Season 9 on Star Vijay and JioHotstar in October 2025. Reactions to his first season were mixed, but his direct questioning, unforced humour and refusal to indulge evasive answers gradually gave the show a personality distinct from Kamal Haasan’s era.

23. Suriya - Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi

Suriya made his television debut as the host of ‘Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi’, the Tamil adaptation of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. The programme premiered on Star Vijay on February 27, 2012 and ran for 40 episodes during its first season.

The actor’s warm interactions with contestants helped the quiz establish itself among Tamil audiences. The season performed strongly enough to generate two more editions, although Suriya could not return because of film commitments. Prakash Raj and Arvind Swamy subsequently inherited the host’s chair.

24. Prakash Raj - Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi

Prakash Raj took over ‘Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi’ for its second season, which aired on Star Vijay from March to July 2013. His multilingual fluency, theatre background and ability to shift between humour and seriousness suited the knowledge-based format.

The season completed more than 80 episodes and included popular celebrity specials featuring Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Sivakarthikeyan, Vijay Sethupathi and Sridevi.

25. Arvind Swamy - Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi

Arvind Swamy became the third star to host ‘Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi’ when it returned to Star Vijay in May 2016 after a break of nearly three years. The revised season introduced two contestants per game and additional changes to its lifelines.

Arvind’s calm voice and composed demeanour created a different mood from the more energetic earlier seasons. The edition ran until November 2016 and completed the Tamil millionaire franchise’s three-season television journey.

26. Kichcha Sudeep - Bigg Boss Kannada

Kichcha Sudeep has hosted ‘Bigg Boss Kannada’ since its inaugural season in 2013. The programme began on ETV Kannada before moving to Colors Kannada, while its digital home evolved from Voot to JioCinema and then JioHotstar. His controlled but authoritative weekend interactions made him central to the franchise.

The tenth season’s finale registered an 11.5 rating, reportedly the highest across its seasons at that point. Although Sudeep initially indicated that Season 11 would be his last, he returned for Season 12 in September 2025 after reaching a new agreement with the channel.

27. Puneeth Rajkumar - Kannadada Kotyadhipati

The late Puneeth Rajkumar hosted the first two seasons of ‘Kannadada Kotyadhipati’, the Kannada version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. The show premiered on Asianet Suvarna, now Star Suvarna, in March 2012 and returned for a second season in 2013.

Puneeth’s warmth and empathetic interactions with contestants helped turn the programme into a major success. After Ramesh Aravind hosted Season 3, Puneeth returned for the fourth edition on Colors Kannada in 2019. The quiz remains a significant part of his legacy because it allowed viewers to experience his generosity and humility.

28. Mohanlal - Bigg Boss Malayalam

Mohanlal has hosted ‘Bigg Boss Malayalam’ since it premiered on Asianet in June 2018. The programme also streams digitally, initially through Disney+ Hotstar and now JioHotstar. His understated but firm weekend presentation has helped the Malayalam edition develop its own tone rather than simply imitating the Hindi version.

The franchise has grown considerably during his tenure. Season 6 reached approximately 2.7 crore viewers, with television ratings rising 35 per cent and streaming viewership increasing 55 per cent over the preceding season. Season 7 subsequently delivered the show’s highest finale and weekend ratings, reinforcing Mohanlal’s importance to the format. He is also returning for Season 8.