We are telling you about that star actor from the film industry who hasn’t done a single film in two years, yet remains the highest paid actor in India. Find out more about him.
Whenever the conversation in the film industry turns to the highest paid actor in India, the names that immediately spring to mind are Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar. Similarly, in South Indian cinema, Rajinikanth is the first name that invariably comes to mind. However, in the list of the highest-paid actors for 2026, none of these names occupies the number one spot. Instead, the top position is held by an actor who hasn’t even appeared in a film for the past two years. Let us tell you who that is.
Table of Contents
5 highest paid actors in India
1. Allu Arjun
In fact, the actor we are referring to is none other than your beloved ‘Pushpa Bhau’—Allu Arjun. Be it Bollywood or the South, he has emerged as the highest-paid actor in Indian cinema. He has surpassed even stalwarts like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Rajinikanth. This claim is not ours, but is substantiated by a report from IMDb.
How much does Allu Arjun charge for a film?
Speaking of Allu Arjun’s fee per film, according to an IMDb report, the actor charges between ₹200 and ₹300 crore. He was last seen in the films ‘Pushpa 1’ and ‘Pushpa 2’. This franchise of his has proven to be a major hit in Indian cinema. According to IMDb, the combined gross collection of both Allu Arjun films stands at ₹2,092.20 crore, with the first film grossing ₹350.10 crore and the second instalment collecting ₹1,742.10 crore. This franchise ranks as the third-highest-grossing franchise, following ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Baahubali’.
2. Thalapathy Vijay
According to IMDb, the second name on this list is Thalapathy Vijay, who charges between ₹150 crore and ₹275 crore. His last release was Leo, which hit theatres in 2023 and delivered a sensational performance at the box office. According to Sacnilk, the film garnered a worldwide collection of ₹605.90 crore and an Indian net collection of ₹341.04 crore. Meanwhile, regarding Thalapathy Vijay’s upcoming projects, he is set to appear in Jan Nayagan; however, the film’s release remains embroiled in controversy. Consequently, it has not yet been released, despite originally being scheduled for a January 2026 release.
3. Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan is known in the film industry as “Mr. Perfectionist.” According to IMDb, he ranks third on this list and charges between ₹100 crore and ₹275 crore per film. Throughout his career, he has starred in a succession of exceptional films. To date, no one has been able to break the record set by his film Dangal, which garnered a collection of ₹2,000 crore. In addition to this, the actor has delivered numerous other hit films, such as 3 Idiots. Furthermore, he was last seen in the film Sitaare Zameen Par, which performed remarkably well at the box office. According to Sacnilk, the film’s gross collection stood at ₹267.52 crore.
4. Rajinikanth
According to IMDb, Rajinikanth ranks fourth on the list of the highest-paid actors in India in 2026. He charges between ₹125 crore and ₹270 crore per film. He was last seen in Vettaiyan and Jailer. Both films delivered exceptional performances at the box office. According to Sacnilk, Vettaiyan grossed ₹253.69 crore, with a net collection of ₹146.89 crore in India. Meanwhile, regarding Jailer, Sacnilk reports that the film collected ₹604.50 crore worldwide, with a net collection of ₹348.55 crore in India. His upcoming film is Jailer 2.
5. Shah Rukh Khan
According to IMDb, Shah Rukh Khan ranks fifth on this list. He charges between ₹150 crore and ₹250 crore per film. He was last seen in the films Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki in 2023. That year, he delivered three hits. According to Sacnilk, Pathaan grossed ₹1,055 crore, Jawan collected ₹1,160 crore, and Dunki earned ₹454 crore worldwide. Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film is King, in which he will once again be seen sharing the screen with Deepika Padukone.
The Top 5 Highest-Paid Actors in India and their Fees (for a film)
| Names of the Actors | Fees (for a film) |
| Allu Arjun | 200–300 Crores |
| Thalapathy Vijay | 150–275 Crores |
| Aamir Khan | 100–275 Crores |
| Rajinikanth | 125–270 Crores |
| Shah Rukh Khan | 150–250 Crores |
Allu Arjun’s Upcoming Film
Meanwhile, speaking of Allu Arjun’s upcoming projects, he is currently making headlines for Atlee Kumar’s film ‘Raaka,’ which is slated for release in 2027. The film features actresses Deepika Padukone and Janhvi Kapoor in pivotal roles alongside Allu Arjun. Fans are eagerly awaiting this release. Recently, on the occasion of his birthday, his first-look poster was unveiled—a truly fierce look.
(Disclaimer: Box office figures have been sourced from Sacnilk and IMDb.)
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