Social media influencers have a new playground: Indian reality TV

“The appearance fee is often the least interesting part of the equation. Of course, established creators can earn significant sums depending on their audience size, popularity and publicist power. But many creators are not joining these shows purely for the immediate payout. They are there because that reality show can compress three years of audience building, into three months. One successful season can lead to brand deals, podcast appearances, sponsorships, event invitations, merchandise opportunities and a completely different level of visibility,” said Pratish Mepani, founder and creative director, Starting Monday Design and Branding Co.