Actor Elli AvRam, who shot to fame after her stint on Bigg Boss Season 7 in 2013, is back in the spotlight. This time, for confirming her much-rumoured relationship with digital content creator Ashish Chanchlani. The duo had been sparking speculation with their frequent public appearances in recent weeks, and while no official collaboration has been announced yet, their relationship has certainly captured fans’ attention. But did you know that she was once the lowest-paid contestant on the popular reality show Bigg Boss?

AvRam, who made her Bollywood debut with Mickey Virus during her reality show appearance, quickly became a talking point, largely due to her close bond with show host Salman Khan. Although the film failed to leave a mark at the box office, Bigg Boss became a turning point in her career.

Reflecting on the impact of the show, the actor shared, “Bigg Boss changed my life from not being someone known to becoming a household name. I have travelled around the world and I remember, I was in the US and while on the street outside an Indian restaurant, I heard a guy screaming ‘Oh My God, this is Elli from Bigg Boss’. That’s when I realised how huge the show has made me.”

AvRam was reportedly among the lowest-paid contestants of the season, receiving just Rs 1 lakh per week. In contrast, fellow participants reportedly earned significantly more – Tanisha Mukherjee, daughter of veteran actor Tanuja, is said to have charged Rs 7.5 lakh per week, making her the highest-paid of the season. Armaan Kohli and Kushal Tandon reportedly earned Rs 5 lakh each, while Gauahar Khan, known for her onscreen chemistry with Tandon, earned an estimated Rs 6 lakh weekly.

The duo Sangram Singh and VJ Andy, known for their camaraderie on the show, were said to have earned between Rs 3 and Rs 3.5 lakh per week. Meanwhile, TV actresses Pratyusha Banerjee and Kamya Punjabi, often referred to as the “vamp-bahu” pair, were each believed to have been paid approximately Rs 3.5 to Rs 4 lakh.

Also joining AvRam in the lowest pay bracket were fellow contestants Vivek Mishra, Sofia Hayat, and Ajaz Khan, which led to a stark disparity in contestant payouts that season. Her relatively low earnings raised questions at the time, especially considering her consistent on-screen presence and composed conduct.

Now, over a decade since her Bigg Boss stint, AvRam has now worked with Salman Khan, appeared in a dance number with Aamir Khan, among many other projects.