South Indian cinema is not just dominating the box office—it’s also redefining stardom across India. With back-to-back blockbusters and a growing pan-India fanbase, South stars are now outpacing many Bollywood A-listers, including the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan, in terms of paycheques.
Here’s a look at the top South Indian actors who are commanding jaw-dropping fees—crossing the ₹100 crore mark per project:
- Rajinikanth – ₹300 Crores (including profit share)
The Thalaiva continues to reign supreme, with his remuneration soaring thanks to his share in film profits. - Vijay – ₹270 Crores *(for his upcoming film Jana Nayagan)
With a massive fan following and consistent box office success, Vijay is one of the highest-paid actors in India today. - Allu Arjun – ₹200 Crores (for his film with Atlee)
Riding high on the Pushpa success, Allu Arjun’s next collaboration with director Atlee is already making headlines for its scale and paycheck. - Ajith Kumar – ₹175 Crores (for his recent projects)
Known for his loyal fanbase and strong openings, Ajith has been consistently drawing massive fees. - Prabhas – ₹180 Crores (for multiple ongoing projects)
After Baahubali, Prabhas became a pan-India star, and his current market value reflects that stature. - Mahesh Babu – ₹180 Crores (expected for his film with SS Rajamouli)
His much-anticipated collaboration with Rajamouli is already creating buzz, and so is the expected remuneration. - Jr. NTR – ₹150 Crores (for Prashanth Neel’s upcoming actioner)
Post-RRR, NTR’s market value has skyrocketed, and his next with the KGF director is one of the most awaited films. - Ram Charan – ₹126 Crores *(for his film Peddi)
Ram Charan continues to ride the wave of success with high-budget films and pan-India appeal.
With South Indian cinema scaling new heights in content and box office numbers, these stars are not only ruling regional screens but also reshaping the economics of Indian cinema.
