Money in Indian cinema rarely sits in a single number. It lives in structures—profit shares, franchise premiums, two-part packages, and pre-release revenue rivers that underwrite eye-popping cheques. With that in mind, here’s a reality-checked 2025 snapshot of the highest paid actors in India, using recent, named reportage and conservative bands where outlets disagree. Treat fees as indicative ranges; exact contracts are private and can vary by project.
1) Allu Arjun — ≈ ₹300 crore realised (Pushpa 2)
Across late-2024 coverage, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 deal is consistently framed as no flat fee, heavy profit-share, with multiple mainstream outlets citing a realised haul around ₹300 crore. Even allowing for headline inflation, the throughline is clear: a franchise this hot can make a participation model out-earn almost any flat cheque.
Why it tracks in 2025: Pushpa is culture plus commerce—pan-India music virality, repeat watchability, and character IP that sells across languages. In that scenario, backend > base.
2) Shah Rukh Khan — ₹200 crore+ realised (Pathaan)
Shah Rukh Khan famously skipped an upfront fee on Pathaan, opting for a profit-share reported near 60%, which mainstream dailies pegged at about ₹200 crore once the film’s all-in profits were counted. It’s the modern superstar template: bet on your own draw, then let the corridors (theatrical, satellite, digital, music) do the compounding.
Context: This model helps explain why a lower “salary” line can still beat a bigger flat fee after final accounting.
3) Rajinikanth — ~₹110 crore fee + ₹100 crore profit share on Jailer (≈ ₹210 crore realised)
There’s on-record, photographic evidence of the ₹100 crore profit-sharing cheque presented to Rajinikanth by Sun Pictures’ Kalanithi Maran, in addition to a reported ₹110 crore base—totaling roughly ₹210 crore. A textbook case of base-plus-backend trumping sticker-price comparisons.
Lesson: When you see “highest paid” debates, always separate fee from final payout.
4) Thalapathy Vijay — ₹200 crore flat (GOAT)
Producer Archana Kalpathi publicly confirmed the ₹200 crore remuneration for The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT)—a rare, on-record flat-fee benchmark. Pre-release business (satellite, digital, music, overseas) reportedly underwrote the risk, which is exactly how such numbers make sense on paper.
Why it matters: In a year crowded with backend stories, Vijay’s 200-crore flat anchors the top end of pure fee quotes.
5) Prabhas — ₹80–₹150 crore (canvas-dependent)
On mega-canvas, VFX-heavy tentpoles like Prabhas’ Kalki 2898 AD, credible coverage ranges from ~₹80 crore to ~₹150 crore, reflecting differing structures (reduced base + upside vs. higher base). He remains a top-ticket for the biggest, widest releases.
Why it moves: Scale, languages, and merchandising potential shift his band film to film.
6) Ajith Kumar — ₹105–₹120 crore (recent Tamil biggies)
For Vidaamuyarchi, clusters across trades place Ajith in the ₹105–₹110+ crore zone; some 2025 round-ups discuss higher asks on upcoming titles or alternate structures (lower base, rights participation). In short: firmly nine-figure territory, with experimentation around risk share.
Side note: Media chatter about future projects suggests a willingness to swap fixed fee for rights in certain scenarios, underlining how dynamic 2025 deal-making has become.
7) Salman Khan — ~₹100 crore + backend corridors (spy-verse scale)
On YRF universe titles and major Eid vehicles, long-running reportage places Salman Khan around ₹100 crore with producer-style participation. Exact splits stay private, but the pattern—healthy base enhanced by performance—has held for years.
Why it sticks: Festive-weekend mastery and single-screen depth keep him evergreen for mass-market tentpoles.
8) Akshay Kumar — ₹60–₹145 crore (deal-by-deal; participation common)
Akshay Kumar’s remuneration is famously modular: sometimes a thicker base, sometimes a lighter base with profit share, sometimes bundled with co-production elements. A realistic 2025 span sits ₹60–₹145 crore, swinging with genre, schedule, and risk split.
Edge: High work cadence and cross-genre bankability.
9) Ranbir Kapoor — ₹70 crore typical; ≈ ₹150 crore for two-parters
For single-part films, Ranbir Kapoor’s ~₹70 crore is a fair guide. For two-part mytho epics like Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, coverage pegs a ~₹150 crore package (≈ ₹75 crore per part). Structure, timelines, and release sequencing influence the final stack.
Upshot: Two parts = two windows of revenue. Packages grow accordingly.
10) Hrithik Roshan — ~₹85 crore (big-canvas action)
On aerial and action tentpoles, Hrithik Roshan typically lands in the ₹75–₹100 crore lane, with ~₹85 crore a sensible midpoint from recent coverage. Urban multiplex pull, brand premium, and action credibility keep him locked into the top ten.
What’s actually driving the leaderboard in 2025?
Franchise premiums are king
When you’re not just casting a star but renting a node in a story universe (spy sagas, mytho epics, two-parters), the pay scales up to reflect continuity and global marketing hooks. That’s how Allu Arjun’s Pushpa participation and Rajini’s Jailer windfall outpace traditional fee math.
Backend > flat fee (at the very top)
SRK’s Pathaan and Rajini’s Jailer make the same point two ways: participations can dwarf a nine-figure fee. It’s also why Vijay’s ₹200-crore flat remains competitive—others with smaller bases can still overtake via profit share.
Momentum resets quotes—fast
One juggernaut, one delay, and a quote changes within a quarter. Always sanity-check date, slate, and structure before treating any number as timeless truth.
TL;DR (2025, at a glance)
These stars earn: Allu Arjun ₹300cr on Pushpa 2; Shah Rukh Khan ₹200cr+ on Pathaan; Rajinikanth ~₹210cr on Jailer; Thalapathy Vijay ₹200cr flat for GOAT; Prabhas ₹80–₹150cr; Ajith Kumar ₹105–₹120cr; Salman Khan ~₹100cr plus backend; Akshay Kumar ₹60–₹145cr with participation; Ranbir Kapoor ~₹70cr, ~₹150cr for two-parters; Hrithik Roshan ~₹85cr. Bands vary by franchise physics, deal structure, and timing.
FAQs
Are these exact salaries?
No—these are reported ranges or realised payouts drawn from recent coverage; studios and stars rarely publish contracts.
Do endorsements count here?
No. This ranking focuses on per-film remuneration (base + backend), not ad money.
Why are Southern stars so prominent?
Because the market is pan-India. Tamil and Telugu tentpoles often set the national pricing tone, and their participation models are aggressive.
How can a lower base beat a higher base?
Profit-share. A 40–60% corridor on a smash can leapfrog a ₹200-crore flat fee. SRK’s Pathaan and Rajini’s Jailer are case studies.
Bio of Author: Gayatri Tiwari is an experienced digital strategist and entertainment writer, bringing 20+ years of content expertise to one of India’s largest OTT platforms. She blends industry insight with a passion for cinema to deliver engaging, trustworthy perspectives on movies, TV shows and web series.
