While Indian cinema actors’ fees remain closely guarded, occasional reports reveal the staggering amounts charged per film. Male superstars now command over ₹100 crore per movie, and female stars are quickly catching up. The title of India’s highest-paid actress recently changed hands, as one star secured a massive ₹30 crore for her comeback film.
India’s Highest-Paid Actress
Priyanka Chopra is set to return to Indian cinema after nearly six years with SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film starring Mahesh Babu. This project also marks her return to South Indian films after more than two decades. According to Bollywood Hungama, Priyanka has signed the film for ₹30 crore, making her the highest-paid Indian actress for a single film.
“This is why they took so long to announce her participation in the project. She was not willing to budge over her fee, and why should she? Why should only male actors get double-digit salaries in our films?” a source told the portal.
Interestingly, Priyanka had previously charged a higher amount—$5 million (over ₹41 crore) for her Amazon Prime Video series Citadel. However, given that the show had a six-hour runtime, the amount was justified. Her ₹30 crore paycheck for SSMB29 (as Mahesh Babu and Rajamouli’s film is tentatively called) is the highest for a female lead in any Indian film.
Who Priyanka Chopra Beat
Before Priyanka’s record-breaking deal, Deepika Padukone held the title of India’s highest-paid actress, reportedly charging ₹20 crore for Kalki 2898 AD. Alia Bhatt follows with a fee of up to ₹15 crore per film, while Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu all command ₹10 crore or more per project.
Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Comeback’ to Indian Cinema
Since relocating to the U.S. in 2015, Priyanka Chopra has made limited appearances in Indian films. After Jai Gangaajal (2016), her only Indian movie was The Sky Is Pink (2019). Her much-anticipated road-trip film Jee Le Zaraa, alongside Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif, remains indefinitely delayed.
Despite her absence from Indian cinema, Priyanka has stayed busy with international projects like Citadel, The White Tiger, The Matrix Resurrections, and Love Again. She also has Heads of State, co-starring Idris Elba and John Cena, lined up for release this year. However, SSMB29 will mark her true comeback to Indian films.