Bollywood's Highest-Paid 2017: Meet 10 Indian Actors Making Bank

KabhiKabhi thumbnail
8th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail Engager Level 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 8 years ago
#1

Tinseltown isn't the only film industry minting millionaires. Indian movies gross far less than their American-made counterparts, but they are typically produced for much cheaper--and recoup costs by selling satellite rights to TV channels.

Despite declining pricetags for those rights, Indian actors are still cashing in from film fees and endorsements. Meet the ten highest-paid stars in Bollywood.

Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP; Background Photo by Avinash Nath Gupta - UTV Motion Pictures; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.



1.King Khan leads the lot, banking big from starring roles in movies such as Raees, for which he earns upfront fees and a cut of the back-end. He also pockets millions from lucrative endorsement deals and profitable productions helmed by his Red Chillies Entertainments.

AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi; Background Photo by Yash Raj Films; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

2.He bests second-ranked Salman Khan, who still earns top rupee for flicks such as Sultan, which was the second-highest grossing Bollywood movie of 2016. The more recent Tubelight, which was released outside our scoring period, did not fare as well. He retains a slew of advertisements and a not-for-profit line of clothing and jewelry.

Photo by Matt Carr/Getty Images; Background photo by Viacom18; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

3.Akshay Kumar's paycheck is thanks to a busy schedule that saw him appear in five movies in our scoring period--more than many of his fellow listmembers. Besides fees from hits like Dishoom and Jolly LLB 2, Kumar also pulls in seven figures hawking items from deodorant to Eveready batteries.

Photo by Larry French/Getty Images; Background photo by Vinod Chopra Productions/IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

3. Aamir Khan scored a global hit with Dangal. His payday is comprised almost entirely of his cut of profits from the boxing drama,which continues to ticket well worldwide. He will earn even more next year when remaining overseas checks come in. He films fewer movies than most Bollywood stars and does not endorse a plethora of products.

Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images; Background photo: Ashutosh Gowariker Productions Pvt. Ltd./UTV Motion Pictures/IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

5.Rounding out the top five is Hrithik Roshan. His only release of 2016, Mohenjo Daro, underperformed, but 2017's Kaabil fared much better. Produced by his father Rakesh Roshan, it surpassed the coveted $15.6 million (Rs 100 crore) mark in just 11 days.

Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Background Photo: Red Chillies Entertainment, Redchillies.VFX, UTV Motion Pictures; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

6.One of two women on the ranking, Padukone's upfront fee is on the rise for her lead role in the forthcoming Padmavati, FORBES estimates. But the 31-year-old star still makes most of her money from endorsements, advertising for more than a dozen brands from global giant Nike to local cellphone maker Oppo.

Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for DIFF; Background Photo: Eros International, SLB Films Pvt. Ltd./IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

7.His 2016 rom-com Befikre failed to match the box office tally of 2015's hit period drama Bajirao Mastani, but endorsements bolster Ranveer Singh's take-home. He shills for a dozen brands in India, including Kellogg's Oats and Durex condoms.

Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures; Background Photo: UTV Motion Pictures/IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

8.A crossover star, Chopra makes the cut thanks to earnings from ABC's Quantico as well as movie roles in Hollywood and Bollywood. This summer's Baywatch reboot, in which she played antagonist Victoria Leeds, failed to make as big a splash as expected, grossing $177.4 million worldwide. She cashes in advertising for Pantene, among others.

Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images; Background Photo: Applause Bhansali Productions, Applause Entertainment Ltd., SLB Films Pvt. Ltd./IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

9. Amitabh ,The 74-year-old stalwart has aged into more complex roles, portraying a lawyer defending women's rights in 2016's Pink. The ranking's oldest member earns big from both the silver and small screens, returning to host the ninth season of India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati?) this August after a three year hiatus.

Photo: STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images); Background photo: UTV Motion Pictures, ishana Movies/IMDB.com; Vectors: Freepik.com; Design by Nick DeSantis, Forbes Staff.

10. Ranbir Kapoor ,The Bollywood scion scored the best box office opening of his career with the romance Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which managed $547,000 (Rs 35 crore) in India in its first weekend. Jagga Jasoos, the pricey follow-up opposite ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif, flopped. Kapoor also makes bank endorsing the likes of underwear brand Macroman.

METHODOLOGY

Earnings estimates are tracked from June 1, 2016 to June 1, 2017 and based on data from Box Office India, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with industry insiders. All figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted.


1. SRK $38 milliion

2. Salman $37 million

3. Akshay $35.5 million

4.Aamir $12.5 Million

5. Hrithik $11.5 million

6. Deepika Padukone $11 million

7. Ranveer Singh $10 million

8. Priyanka Chopra $10 million

9.Amitabh bachchan $9 million

10. Ranbir Kapoor $8.5 million

Edited by KabhiKabhi - 8 years ago

Created

Last reply

Replies

14

Views

1.1k

Users

12

Likes

9

Frequent Posters

you2 thumbnail
18th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 500 Thumbnail + 7
Posted: 8 years ago
#2
TFS
😃
Edited by you2 - 8 years ago
Jahanaroosa thumbnail
8th Anniversary Thumbnail Navigator Thumbnail
Posted: 8 years ago
#3
Very happy for ranveer yesss
you2 thumbnail
18th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 500 Thumbnail + 7
Posted: 8 years ago
#4
Edited by you2 - 8 years ago
KabhiKabhi thumbnail
8th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail Engager Level 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 8 years ago
#5
1011128 thumbnail
Posted: 8 years ago
#6

1. SRK $38 milliion

2. Salman $37 million

3. Akshay $35.5 million

4.Aamir $12.5 Million

5. Hrithik $11.5 million

6. Deepika Padukone $11 million

7. Ranveer Singh $10 million

9.Amitabh bachchan $9 million

10. Ranbir Kapoor $8.5 million


Congratulations all of the above.

Terenaina thumbnail
19th Anniversary Thumbnail Trailblazer Thumbnail + 4
Posted: 8 years ago
#7
Without a film, dp makes more money with ads then films
-Piku- thumbnail
11th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail + 4
Posted: 8 years ago
#8
Done and dusted Deepu is still the top actress earning the highest without movies 😲
jibber-jabber thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail + 2
Posted: 8 years ago
#9
How and why does Aamir earn so less? 😕 Glad to see SRK on top and DP-Ranveer in top 10 ⭐️
664269 thumbnail
Posted: 8 years ago
#10
Hrithik is a mystery, he earns a lot and even stays in top 5 box office or popularity chart despite not releasing anything and also having box office failures. I hope he bucks up and realizes that people want to see him work more.
Deepika and PC are no shockers since both are the only ones that make headlines.

Related Topics

Bollywood thumbnail

Posted by: Briaahna · 1 months ago

https://x.com/yearofthekraken/status/1998459014569763202?s=46 t=vevCm3I0SGjUvmq-Bjkadg

https://x.com/yearofthekraken/status/1998459014569763202?s=46
Expand ▼
Bollywood thumbnail

Posted by: Sparkle_Soul · 3 months ago

“You cannot say that the producer’s commitment shall not be honoured. Saying ‘I don’t feel like working today’ is not acceptable professionally....

Expand ▼
Bollywood thumbnail

Posted by: elaichichai · 25 days ago

Only Dangal. Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2 ahead of it. Dhurandhar did it being a single language, adult rated non sequel film...

Expand ▼
Bollywood thumbnail

Posted by: elaichichai · a month ago

https://x.com/i/status/2008801346582118731

https://x.com/i/status/2008801346582118731
Expand ▼
Top

Stay Connected with IndiaForums!

Be the first to know about the latest news, updates, and exclusive content.

Add to Home Screen!

Install this web app on your iPhone for the best experience. It's easy, just tap and then "Add to Home Screen".