Gods of the small-screen
As is now well-known, TV is an extremely well-paying medium. Where male actors are concerned, the crown of highest paid actor goes to Vinod Khanna for obvious reasons.
Apparently, it was the huge pay packet—more than Rs 2 lakh per day—which lured Khanna to give his nod for Smriti Iraani's daily soap Mere Apne.
The next actor is Ekta Kapoor's blue-eyed boy Ronit Roy, who got a new lease of life with Balaji's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi after his unsuccessful movie career. The actor who was later seen as Mr Bajaj in Balaji's Kasauti Zindagi Kay and as Aparajit Deb in Kasamh Se, has become a staunch Balaji loyalist. Presently, he's charging more than Rs 65,000 per day. After Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2, his market value has gone a few notches higher.
The next big actor is Ram Kapoor who has become a household name with his Jai Walia act in Kasamh Se. He earns more than Rs 40,000 per day for his exclusivity and loyalty. Hiten Tejwani, another trusted Balaji actor gets around Rs 35,000 per day. He has never ventured beyond Balaji for roles.
Besides the above, actors Sharad Kelkar (Nahar of Saat Phere) and Sharad Malhotra (Sagar of Banoo Main Teri Dulhann) net around Rs 25,000 per day.
The small-screen sure yields big returns.
