Raking in the moolah: The highest paid actors in Bollywood
Kangana Ranaut, who has been riding on a high after starring in a number of hits, charges Rs 11 crores for movies that she signs up for, making her one of the highest paid actresses in Bollywood. The actress has also reportedly doubled her endorsement fees, while renewing her contract with a beauty brand that she endorses. With Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra busy with their international projects, Ranaut is fast taking up projects and making big monies in the domestic scene.
With Bollywood films are raking in moolah, among the men, the three Khans and Akshay Kumar continue to remain among the highest paid actors in Bollywood, while Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone rule the roost among the women. We take a look at ten of the highest paid actors in Bollywood:
Salman Khan: Among the highest paid actors in India, and featured in the top the 2015 Forbes’ top 10 highest paid actors in the world list, Salman Khan reportedly charges around Rs 50-60 crores per film. According to the Forbes listing, Khan took home approximately Rs 2,217 crores last year, earning more than some Hollywood A-listers – in comparison Leonardo Di Caprio earned USD 29 million (approximately Rs 1,952 crores). Khan also earns money through brand endorsements, from the television shows he hosts, and through satellite rights for his films. Khan had also signed a Rs 500 crores deal with Star India, to whom he has sold exclusive rights to all his films till 2017. He has a number of projects lined up for the next couple of years, including Sultan (July 2016), Dabaang 3, No Entry Mein Entry and Mahesh Manjrekar’s next project.
Amitabh Bachchan: Seventy-three-year old Amitabh Bachchan remains indefatigable, and continues to earn among the highest in the industry. The actor was also listed in the Forbes’ list of the highest earners of 2015, and took home Rs 2,217 crores last year. Apart from charging around Rs 20 crores per film, Bachchan also earns a cut from each film’s ticketing revenue, has a number of brand endorsements, and has raked in much money through TV shows such as Kaun Banega Crorepati and Aaj Ki Raat Zindagi.
Akshay Kumar: Among the busiest actors in B-Town, the Khiladi King charges around Rs 35-40 crores per film. With four film releases in 2015, all of which were box office hits, the actor continues to hold the record for working in the most number of films a year. He also joins Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in the Forbes’ list, with a 2015 earnings of approximately Rs 2,152 crores. He also earns from brand endorsements, TV shows and share in profits. Kumar was also the highest income tax payer from the industry, last year. The actor has his hands full in 2016 and 2017, with Housefull 3, Rustom, Robot 2, Namaste England and the remake of the Vijay starrer Tamil film, Kaththi.
Shah Rukh Khan: At Rs 30-35 crores per film, King Khan may not be the highest paid actor in Bollywood, but he surely does rake in a lot of money, and has a huge fan following all over the world. According to the Forbes list, the actor is placed 18th in the list of highest paid international actors, earning Rs 1,720 crores. The actor also co-owns the IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, and has a number of brand endorsements in his kitty. The actor, reportedly returned half of the distributors money for his 2015 film Dilwale, after they suffered losses in India, because of distribution issues.
Aamir Khan: The actor, whose next project Dangal, has been much talked about, did not have any releases last year. He was also in the thick of controversy, after his remark on intolerant India. However, any film that he does is, in most cases, a major hit, and the actor is amongst the highest earning in the industry, reportedly charging around Rs 40-45 crores. Khan, who also earns from brand endorsements, did lose out on a few contracts, post his controversial statement last year.
Priyanka Chopra: PeeCee has been making waves internationally, ever since she starred in the ABC television series, Quantico. The actress will next be seen in her debut Hollywood film, Baywatch. Back home, PeeCee saw success with her 2015 movies Dil Dhadakne Do, Bajirao Mastani and Jai Gangaajal. The actress charges Rs 7 crores per film. Her upcoming films include Gustakhiyaan, a romantic biography on poet-writer Amrita Pritam; Chopra will also be producing three regional language films – a Marathi, Punjabi and Bhojpuri film, this year.
Kareena Kapoor Khan: While Kareena Kapoor Khan has been getting quite choosy about the films she signs up for – she had just one release in 2015, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (and with rumours of her being pregnant doing the rounds), her films still make money, and the actress is very much in demand. Her first film of the year, Ki and Ka, opposite Arjun Kapoor, made Rs 50 crores domestically, and was named a hit. She will next be seen in Abhishek’s Chaubey’s Udta Punjab. The actress, who charges around Rs 8 crores per film, along with co stars Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, reportedly slashed their fees by half as they were impressed by the film’s storyline.
Deepika Padukone: Another Bollywood actress to make the crossover into Hollywood, with her debut movie xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, opposite Vin Diesel, Padukone charges around Rs 8 crores per film. Back home, she tasted success last year with Piku, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, which was a huge success, Bajirao Mastani with her current flame Ranvir Singh, and Tamasha, with her ex-boyfriend, Ranbir Kapoor.
Hrithik Roshan: The hunky actor, who has been in the news for his stormy divorce, and legal spat with Kangana Ranaut, is reported to have charged Rs 50 crores for his upcoming period drama, Mohenjo Daro. This puts him in the league of the highest paid actors in the industry. For his previous film, the 2014 action comedy flick Bang Bang, opposite Katrina Kaif, the actor had charged Rs 30 crores.
Ajay Devgn: While his the films in his kitty may be dwindling - he had just one release in 2015, the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film, Drishyam - the actor still does rake in the monies. He also earns a huge sum from brand endorsements. After the success of his 2012 comedy, Bol Bachchan, Devgn has started demanding on a per day basis, charging Rs 1 crore per day for films where he makes a special appearance. His fees, per film, is Rs 20- 25 crores, otherwise.
