'Mr Bachchan and I have just swapped places'

Salman Khan can be very entertaining.

The actor was his usual witty, quirky and fun loving self during a press conference in Mumbai to announce him as the next host of the reality show, Bigg Boss 4.

He also performed to the title track of his upcoming movie, Dabangg, and spoke about the inevitable comparisons to Amitabh Bachchan. Excerpts:

Who would you want to see on Bigg Boss this season and why?

Firstly, I would like to see myself. I just want the show to be good and entertaining and hope everyone enjoys it. I have watched the show in the past and enjoyed it. I am sure this time when I watch it, I will enjoy it more -- because I am on it.

Arshad (Warsi), Shilpa (Shetty) and Mr Bachchan have all done a really good job, and I hope that I can at least match up to Shilpa.

Mr Bachchan is way too senior and experienced and there can be no comparisons with him. I am just a small boy trying to do something entertaining.

I hope I can make it more fun outside than inside the house. For the longest time, I wanted to be on the outside and now I am. I am quite fed up of going inside [smiles].

Reports say that Shah Rukh Khan was first approached to host this show...

Could be for obvious reasons [smirks].

What did you like about the earlier seasons of Bigg Boss? Who do you think is the Bigg Boss of Bollywood?

I liked the episode where Vindu Dara Singh cried [smiles].

Though I am a part of Bollywood, I am still very far from it. Competitions and politics are there but one must play fair.

Amitabh Bachchan hosted Bigg Boss on Colors last year while you hosted 10 Ka Dum on Sony. Now he's hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati on Sony and you Bigg Boss on Colors. Will you be able to change the numbers?

I don't know about TRPs. We have just swapped places [smiles]. We are two different personalities with two different styles. I don't think I could do Kaun Banega Crorepati as well as he did.

Your connection with the audience on 10 Ka Dum was most talked about. Why didn't you continue with the show? Why Bigg Boss?

I wanted to do Bigg Boss because I wanted the people at home to see that celebrities are human too. They do good and bad things. After all, how much can one act and pretend to be someone else when there is a camera trained on you 24/7?

Does this mean you won't host 10 Ka Dum anymore?

The contract is over, so there won't be another season. Let's see if they want me to do it again. I like the connect, so I will do it if offered.

You had the famous line 'kitne prateeshak' on Dus Ka Dum. What new punch line or dialogue are you going to use on Bigg Boss 4?

As of now, nothing. I will probably know about it when the celebrities come in. Whatever it is, it will be spontaneous. It all depends on how entertaining they are. The more entertaining they are, the more entertaining I will be.

If given a choice to be inside the house, will you do it?

I don't have a choice. I wouldn't be able to handle so many cameras on me all the time. It will be more comfortable for me to be on the outside and make sure everything is fine inside.

Who is the Bigg Boss of you life?

My father.

What are going to bring to the table?

Let's see when it starts. You will know then.

Has television become a means of earning extra money for the celebrities?

Yeah [laughs]. It is also a way for the fans to see you free of cost. That's a better way of putting it. When you telecast all these shows, it's the fans who get to watch their favourite celebrities free of cost. They don't have to spend money and watch them in theatres. This is what I like about TV. This was the intention behind 10 Ka Dum too.

Your connection with the general public on 10 Ka Dum was better compared to your connection with the celebrities on season two. Which is easier for you?

Generally if you have a way with people, you can get along with anyone. If you make friends with them, the connect will always come, if not then it won't work. If they are comfortable with you, they will come up to you and share stuff.

You have worked on the big screen as well as the small screen. Which do you think is better?

Both are good. Eventually, big screen comes down to small screen. On the small screen, if they don't like you, they can change the channel. It is difficult to make sure that they don't change the channel.