Highest Paid Actors in India (All Time) – Per Film Earnings

One of the biggest reasons behind this shift is the move from traditional fixed fees to hybrid and profit-sharing models. Earlier, actors were paid a flat amount for a film. However, today’s top stars often choose to take a reduced upfront fee—or sometimes no fee at all—in exchange for a share of the film’s profits. This share can range from 15% to 60% and includes revenue from box office collections, OTT deals, satellite rights, and music rights.

This evolving payment structure has significantly increased the earnings of the highest paid Indian actors per movie. In this article, we present a detailed list of the top 10 highest paid actors in India (2026), including their total earnings, base salary, and profit-sharing models.

10 Highest Paid Actors in India All Time

1. Allu Arjun – Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024)

• Total Earnings: ₹300 Crore (Reported)
• Base Fee: ₹175 Crore
• Type: Hybrid (Fixed Fee + 27% Profit Share)
• Budget: ₹600 Crore
• Box Office: ₹1,642–1,800 Crore (Worldwide)

Allu Arjun created history with Pushpa 2: The Rule, becoming one of the highest paid actors in India. The film turned into a massive pan-India blockbuster, performing strongly in both South and Hindi markets. He reportedly charged a base fee of around ₹175 crore and also secured a 27% share in the film’s profits, which took his total earnings close to ₹300 crore. This kind of deal highlights his huge box office pull, where his name alone is enough to draw audiences and give confidence to producers. It also reflects the growing trend in the industry where top actors earn not just through fixed salaries, but through profit-sharing models that significantly increase their overall income.

2. Aamir Khan – Dangal (2016)

• Total Earnings: ₹275 Crore
• Base Fee: ₹35 Crore
• Type: Hybrid (Base Fee + 33% Profit Share)
• Budget: ₹70 Crore
• Box Office: ₹1,968–2,054 Crore (Worldwide)

Aamir Khan’s earnings from Dangal became one of the biggest examples of profit-sharing success in Indian cinema. He reportedly charged a base fee of around ₹35 crore but also took a 33% share in the film’s profits, which worked heavily in his favor. After the film performed strongly in India and overseas, its record-breaking success in China pushed his total earnings to nearly ₹275 crore. This clearly shows how profit-sharing can significantly boost an actor’s income, especially when a film performs exceptionally well in international markets.

3. Rajinikanth – Coolie (2025)

• Total Earnings: ₹225 Crore (Reported)
• Base Fee: ₹125 Crore
• Type: Hybrid (Fixed Fee + 50% Profit Share)
• Budget: ₹400 Crore
• Box Office: ₹650–700 Crore (Worldwide)

Rajinikanth’s earnings from Coolie (2025) once again proved his unmatched star power in Tamil cinema. Even in his 70s, he reportedly charged a base fee of around ₹125 crore along with a massive 50% share in the film’s profits. Thanks to his huge fan following, the film generated strong pre-release business through theatrical and satellite rights, helping recover a big part of the budget even before release. After a solid opening and strong box office performance, his total earnings were estimated to cross ₹225 crore. This clearly shows how his presence alone adds massive value to a film and ensures strong returns for producers.

4. Shah Rukh Khan – Pathaan (2023)

• Total Earnings: ₹200 Crore
• Base Fee: ₹0 (Zero Upfront Fee)
• Type: Profit Share (60% of Total Profits)
• Budget: ₹270 Crore
• Box Office: ₹1,050.3 Crore (Worldwide)

Shah Rukh Khan’s earnings from Pathaan (2023) were a great example of a smart profit-sharing strategy. Instead of taking any upfront fee, he chose a full profit-sharing model and secured around 60% of the film’s total profits. This move reduced the initial cost for the producers and allowed a bigger budget for the film’s production. As Pathaan crossed ₹1,000 crore at the global box office, his total earnings were estimated to be around ₹200 crore. This shows how top actors can earn huge amounts by trusting their film’s success and choosing profit-sharing over fixed salaries.

5. Thalapathy Vijay – The Greatest of All Time (2024)

• Total Earnings: ₹200 Crore
• Base Fee: ₹200 Crore
• Type: Fixed Fee
• Budget: ₹400 Crore
• Box Office: ₹440–460 Crore (Worldwide)

Thalapathy Vijay (actor)’s earnings from The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) (2024) highlight the strong “superstar value” he holds in the Tamil film industry. Unlike many actors who prefer profit-sharing, he reportedly charged a massive flat fee of around ₹200 crore, making him one of the highest paid actors in India. His huge fan following in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and overseas markets ensures strong box office openings, which gives producers confidence to pay such a high amount upfront. This clearly shows how his star power alone plays a major role in a film’s commercial success.

6. Ajith Kumar – Good Bad Ugly (2025)

• Total Earnings: ₹163 Crore
• Base Fee: ₹150 Crore
• Type: Fixed Fee
• Budget: ₹300 Crore
• Box Office: ₹400–450 Crore (Worldwide)

Ajith Kumar’s earnings from Good Bad Ugly (2025) marked a major career high for the actor. He reportedly charged a base fee of around ₹150 crore, with his total earnings going up to nearly ₹163 crore. This amount was almost half of the film’s total budget, showing how much the industry depends on his strong fan base and “Thala” brand to drive opening day collections. The film performed well, especially in urban and international markets, proving that investing heavily in a big star like him can still deliver solid returns. This also reflects the trend where top Tamil actors prefer high fixed fees instead of profit-sharing models.

7. Kamal Haasan – Kalki 2898 AD (2024)

• Total Earnings: ₹150 Crore (Reported)
• Base Fee: ₹20–150 Crore (Disputed)
• Type: Strategic Fixed Fee
• Budget: ₹600 Crore
• Box Office: ₹1,042–1,100 Crore (Worldwide)

Kamal Haasan’s earnings from Kalki 2898 AD (2024) became a major topic of discussion due to varying reports about his salary. While some sources suggested a fee of around ₹20 crore, several trade reports claimed that he earned close to ₹150 crore for his role. His presence added significant value to the film, especially because of his strong screen impact and importance in the storyline. With the film crossing ₹1,000 crore worldwide, such a high payout was seen as a strategic investment by the makers. This clearly shows how experienced stars can still command massive earnings when they play key roles in big-budget films.

8. Prabhas – Kalki 2898 AD (2024)

• Total Earnings: ₹150 Crore
• Base Fee: ₹150 Crore
• Type: Fixed Fee
• Budget: ₹600 Crore
• Box Office: ₹1,042–1,100 Crore (Worldwide)

Prabhas’s earnings from Kalki 2898 AD (2024) once again proved his strong pan-India stardom. He reportedly charged a flat fee of around ₹150 crore, making him one of the highest paid actors in India. The film opened with massive numbers, showing his huge box office pull across both North and South markets. For big-budget films like this, his presence gives confidence to producers and distributors, as his name alone can attract a large audience. This is why he continues to command such high upfront fees, especially in the Telugu film industry.

9. Salman Khan – Sultan (2016)

• Total Earnings: ₹100–130 Crore (Estimated)
• Base Fee: ₹0 (Profit Sharing Model)
• Type: Profit Share
• Budget: ₹90 Crore
• Box Office: ₹589–623 Crore (Worldwide)

Salman Khan’s earnings from Sultan (2016) became one of the earliest and biggest examples of profit-sharing success in Bollywood. Instead of taking a fixed salary, he chose a profit-sharing deal and reportedly earned over ₹100 crore from the film’s success. With a budget of around ₹90 crore and global earnings crossing ₹600 crore, the film turned out to be highly profitable. This clearly shows how his strong fan base and box office pull helped him earn significantly more than a regular fixed fee, making him one of the highest paid actors in India.

10. Ranbir Kapoor – Animal (2023)

• Total Earnings: ₹100 Crore (Estimated)
• Base Fee: ₹35 Crore
• Type: Hybrid (Reduced Fee + Profit Share)
• Budget: ₹100 Crore
• Box Office: ₹917.82 Crore (Worldwide)

Ranbir Kapoor’s earnings from Animal (2023) showed a smart financial move where he chose profit-sharing over a higher fixed fee. He reportedly reduced his usual ₹70 crore fee to around ₹35 crore and took a share in the film’s profits. As the film turned into a blockbuster with over ₹900 crore worldwide collection, his total earnings are estimated to be around ₹100 crore. This clearly shows how taking calculated risks with profit-sharing can lead to bigger rewards, especially when a film performs well at the box office.

Highest Paid Actors in India – Comparison Table