Rajinikanth to Thalapathy Vijay, highest paid actors of Kollywood ...

By Janani K: The Tamil film industry has seen many legends, from MG Ramachandran to Sivaji Ganesan, ruling the roost at different phases. Over the years, many stars, from Rajinikanth to Kamal Haasan, Vijaykanth to Vikram, Ajith to Vijay, Suriya to Simbu, Dhanush to Vijay have made their mark in the industry. With changing costs and the combination of hits and flops, these stars have climbed up the ladder and are now quoting whopping sums of money as remuneration.

In this piece, let us take a look at the highest-paid actors of Kollywood and how much they earn per film.

Superstar Rajinikanth, Thalapathy Vijay, Kamal Haasan and Ajith are among the Top 4 highest-paid actors in the Tamil film industry. Over the years, their remunerations have seen a gradual incline. Most of the time, their remunerations are almost half of the film's entire budget.

A producer on the condition of anonymity told IndiaToday.in, "These days, if you need top actors, you need to set aside a separate budget just for one person. It is also because of the crowd they bring to the theatres and their market value. Even if you have a semi-decent script, these stars will have the ability to turn the film into a profitable venture."

However, sometimes, the producers lie about the collection as it will bring down the market value of that particular star. Speaking at the CII Dakskshin South India Media and Entertainment Summit 2023 in Chennai, Tirupur Subramaniam, film distributor and head of Tamil nadu's Theatre Owners Association, said that actors will need to get a reality check about their market.

He said, "Please be ashamed to tell lies about box office collections. If a film is a flop, say it out loud so that the heroes get some sense. Don’t lie about the box office. I have stopped sharing box office collections to the media, because I am ashamed of lying. If I want to tell the real figures, I will anger the producers and actors. So, I stopped it all together. If producers stop lying, Tamil cinema will get better."

After speaking to multiple trade sources, here, we bring you a list of the highest paid actors of Kollywood based on their salary per film.

THALAPATHY VIJAY

Thalapathy Vijay is the highest-paid actor in Kollywood. Recently, it was reported that the actor is getting a whopping Rs 200 crore as salary per film. However, sources told IndiaToday.in that Vijay is earning Rs 125 crore per film.

SUPERSTAR RAJINIKANTH

Just behind Vijay is Superstar Rajinikanth, who has been one of the highest-paid actors for several decades. According to reports, Thalaivar quotes Rs 120 crore per film. The actor is at the fag end of his career and it is said that he is likely to retire in a few years after he completes his current commitments.

AJITH

Ajith Kumar has had back-to-back hits in his career. His film, Viswasam, prompted him to take a fee-hike. Reports suggest that the actor earns approximately Rs 105 crore per film. Apart from films, he also started his own motorcycle touring company called AK Moto Ride.

KAMAL HAASAN

Kamal Haasan has completed six decades in the film industry. He made a comeback in 2022 with Lokesh Kanagaraj's Vikram, which earned over Rs 400 crore worldwide. At 68, Kamal Haasan still remains at the top. He reportedly earns Rs 75 crore per film.

DHANUSH

In 2022, Dhanush has risen as a global star after he scored a hit with Netflix's The Gray Man. He also has a standalone film with the Russo Brothers. Back home, Dhanush recently forayed into Telugu with Vaathi and has a couple of projects lined up. Reportedly, he quotes somewhere around Rs 20 to 35 crore per film.

SIVAKARTHIKEYAN

Sivakarthikeyan's growth as a TV anchor to one of the bankable heroes in the Tamil film industry is inspiring. Recently, he stepped foot in Telugu with a bilingual flick called Prince. It is said that Sivakarthikeyan earns Rs 20-30 crore per film.

SURIYA

Suriya has remained one of the bankable actors in the Tamil film industry for several years. Reportedly, he quotes Rs 20 to 25 crore per film.

CHIYAAN VIKRAM

Though Chiyaan Vikram has been in the industry for several decades, he is someone who brings a lot to the table. Reportedly, he quotes somewhere around Rs 25 crore (less than Rs 50 crore) per film.