For Salman, it's buddy Aamir Khan over big bucks

This year's big TV debut is set to happen soon. As actor Aamir Khan readies for his television debut with his issue-based show, said to be about real people from across the nation, buzz is that competing channels had apparently wanted to rope in actor Salman Khan, at the earliest, to handle the tough TRP run.

Many channels apparently wanted to get Salman, who also happens to be Aamir's close buddy, on board around the same time as Aamir's TV debut. "On the small screen, actors Amitabh Bachchan and Salman have been reigning favourites. And the TRPs of their shows are proof of their popularity on TV. Hence many channel heads apparently approached the star to be part of their shows, so they could grab eyeballs at the same time. However, being Aamir's buddy, Salman apparently refused the big bucks offered by the shows for the sake of his friend," says a source.

An industry insider further claims, "Aamir is a perfectionist, and the way his TV debut is being planned, it is sure to make many production houses and channels re-shuffle their programming line-up. As Aamir's show is to air on Sunday mornings and simulcast across eight channels and languages, the reach will automatically widen, therefore putting pressure on others. Though the show is yet to be aired and is not in the regular prime time slots, industry experts feel that the thinking man's actor can really ruffle the TRP game. And now, with one of TV's favourite hosts backing him, it seems like the other stars surely will have some competition, not just in films, but on the small screen too."

SRC