The glitzy Indian cinema business is well-known for both its actors’ immense star power and their astounding pay.
The list of highest-paid Indian actors is evidence of the dynamically shifting nature of the business.
Shah Rukh Khan, who scored three successes in 2023, defeated South Indian stars Rajinikanth, Prabhas, Thalapathy Vijay and Allu Arjun, as well as Bollywood icons Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, to claim the No. 1 position in the list of the top 10 highest-paid Indian actors recently compiled by Forbes, leveraging IMDb data.
IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content, providing ratings and reviews.
The list, interestingly, does not include Amitabh Bachchan.
According to Forbes, Shah Rukh charges between Rs150 crore ($24.3 million) and Rs250 crore for a film. Rajinikanth, the superstar of Tamil cinema, is paid between Rs150 crore and Rs210 crore for a film.
Thalapathy Vijay is third, reportedly charging between Rs130 crore and Rs200 crore for a project.
The others on the list are: Prabhas (Rs100 crore to Rs200 crore), Aamir Rs100 crore to Rs175 crore), Salman (Rs100 crore to Rs150crore), Kamal Haasan (Rs100 crore to Rs150 crore), Arjun (Rs100 crore to Rs125 crore), Akshay Kumar (Rs60 crore to Rs 145 crore) and Ajith Kumar (Rs105 crore).
Forbes also says that Shah Rukh is clearly the king with an estimated net worth of Rs6,300 crore ($972 million).
The 58-year-old, fondly known as SRK, most recently starred in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, which received mixed reviews from the audience and critics.
But overall he is an iconic figure in Bollywood, renowned for his stellar performances in more than 80 films.
Shah Rukh’s journey to stardom began with humble origins, starting with stage productions in Delhi before making his television debut in the 1988 series Fauji.
His silver screen debut came in 1992 with Deewana, marking the onset of a prolific career adorned with critical accolades and commercial triumphs.
Known as King Khan, Shah Rukh has had his share of flops, but his recent successes, Jawan and Pathaan, both grossing over Rs 2,000 crore worldwide, reassert his dominance.
Beyond acting, his entrepreneurial spirit shines through his ventures as a co-owner of cricket franchises Kolkata Knight Riders and the Trinbago Knight Riders.
He has also made significant investments in diverse business ventures, leveraging his brand value and financial acumen to establish a formidable presence in the corporate landscape.
Central to Shah Rukh’s business empire is his production company Red Chillies Entertainment, which has churned out a myriad of successful movies and TV shows. Additionally, his brand endorsements span across various industries, from automobiles to fashion, augmenting his substantial earnings.
