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B Town Divas' Fat Remuneration For Telugu Movies Pays Off

There's no doubt that international star Priyanka Chopra has outpaced her B-town rivals Deepika Padukone and Janhvi Kapoor in terms of remuneration. Reports suggest she is charging a whopping Rs 25 crore for her upcoming untitled film with superstar Mahesh Babu. In comparison, Deepika Padukone reportedly earned Rs 13 crore for Kalki 2898 AD, while Janhvi Kapoor secured over Rs 10 crore for RC 16.

“They are no longer just actresses; they have evolved into global brands in their own right. Their popularity and influence naturally justify their earnings, though I prefer not to discuss specific figures,” says producer Lagadapati Sridhar. He reflects on director S.S. Rajamouli’s career, highlighting his ability to transform rising actresses into stars. “Earlier, he introduced talents like Bhumika (Simhadri), Priyamani (Yamadonga), Anushka Shetty (Vikramarkudu), and Shriya Saran (Chatrapathi). However, with his pan-India stature post-Baahubali, he roped in Bollywood’s Alia Bhatt for RRR. With RRR’s global success, he is collaborating with Priyanka Chopra—an international celebrity and Hollywood actor—for an ambitious, globe-trotting forest adventure with Mahesh Babu. Their pairing will be spectacular,” he adds.
Beyond films, Deepika Padukone and Janhvi Kapoor also have lucrative international brand endorsements and massive social media followings. “Their brand endorsements further boost their global reach, making them household names. With each having 10 to 20 million followers on Instagram and X, their social media presence is an invaluable asset, enhancing their brand equity. Given these factors, their remuneration is well justified, and Telugu filmmakers don’t seem to mind it,” he explains.
In contrast, top T-town actresses like Kajal Aggarwal, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rashmika Mandanna, and Mrunal Thakur reportedly earn around Rs 4 crore per film, significantly lower than their Bollywood counterparts.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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