Bigg Boss Marathi 5, which premiered on July 28, 2024, is now being hosted by Bollywood's beloved actor, Riteish Deshmukh, after the previous seasons were hosted by actor, director, and producer Mahesh Manjrekar. Reports indicate that Riteish Deshmukh is charging significantly more than his predecessor, with his fees per episode reportedly ranging between Rs 30-40 lakh, totaling around Rs 2 crore for the season.

According to a Hindustan Times Marathi report, Mahesh Manjrekar charged Rs 25 lakh per episode when he hosted Bigg Boss Marathi Season 4. With the show returning after a two-year hiatus, Deshmukh's higher fee reflects his prominence, especially considering he charges Rs 6-7 crore per movie, as reported by News 18 Hindi.

This season's theme is "Chakravyuh," and the excitement is already building with participants like Abhijeet Sawant and Nikki Tamboli. Although there are claims that Deshmukh's fees could be as high as Rs 40 lakh per episode, making his total fees Rs 5.6 crore, there has been no official confirmation. The grand premiere aired at 9 pm on July 28th on Colors Marathi and is also available for streaming on Jio Cinema.