Salman Khan’s television reality show Dus Ka Dum has topped viwership ratings, improving the fortunes of Sony T.V.

In fact, its TRP is highest among shows being hosted by Bollywood superstars including Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

Salman Khan has stolen the TRP thunder with his Dus Ka Dum with TAM ratings showing that the show has now garnered a peak rating of 4.5 . This is compared to peak rate of around 2.5 TRP that Shah Rukh Khan’s Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain received .

Dus ka Dum’ was launched on June 6. Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Junoon — Kuch Kar Dikhane Ka’, launched on the same day in NDTV Imagine, managed only an average TVR of 0.76 an a peak rate of 1.1.

Drawn on the lines of the US game show, ‘Power of 10’, ‘Dus ka Dum’ gives the contestants an opportunity to win Rs10 crore, the biggest prize money (to date) on Indian television, by answering just five questions. The contestant has to predict what would be the opinion of the Indian people. The prize money starts from Rs10,000. Thereafter wins grow by the power of 10 and losses shrink by the power of ten.

Salman Khan brings a good amount of fresh humour and wit to the show and makes it enjoyable for participants as well as viewers. For example in a forthcoming episode, he quizzes special guest Yuvraj Singh on who is his favourite actress and Yuvraj replies Katrina Kaif( who is Salman’s girl friend). Salman immediately quips, “ Meri Bhi.”

Salman Khan, it is believed, will cost Sony around Rs 90 crore.

The question is why are television bosses running behind big screen stars charging exorbitant prices.

Says Colours CEO Rajesh Kamat: “It is one way of cutting through the clutter and getting into Indian homes quickly.”

The best example is Star Plus, whose fortunes changed all of a sudden with Amitabh Bachchan’s mega hit ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.