In the 1960s, Lata Mangeshkar brought a seismic shift to Bollywood’s music industry by demanding that playback singers be paid on par with lyricists and composers, a notion largely unheard of at the time. Back then, even popular singers like Mohammed Rafi and Manna Dey were paid modestly at around ₹300 per song, despite their fame. Yet, Lata’s strong stance on fair pay changed the game. As Bollywood transitioned from vinyl records and cassettes to YouTube and streaming platforms, the value and visibility of singers skyrocketed. This journey has led to a new era where India’s top singers command massive fees, with one singer, AR Rahman, emerging as the industry’s highest earner.
Currently, AR Rahman holds the distinction as India’s highest-paid singer. Industry sources reveal that Rahman commands an astounding ₹3 crore per song whenever he chooses to lend his voice. This fee is 12 to 15 times more than what other top singers in the country typically charge. Sources say Rahman sets this high rate deliberately to limit requests, as he wants to prioritize his focus on music composition. He usually only sings songs he has personally composed, but if he agrees to lend his voice to another composer’s work, the producers are required to meet his premium price.
In the list of top-earning full-time singers, Shreya Ghoshal ranks highest, charging approximately ₹25 lakh per song. Following her is Sunidhi Chauhan, who demands between ₹18-20 lakh per song, positioning her as one of the highest-paid singers. Arijit Singh matches Sunidhi’s rate, earning between ₹18-20 lakh for each song, as per industry estimates. Completing the top five is Sonu Nigam, who commands a fee of ₹15-18 lakh for a single recording. Meanwhile, rapper Badshah and singer Diljit Dosanjh have recently increased their rates, potentially setting them up to break into the top ranks of India’s highest-paid music artists in the near future.
