Top stars from B-town are charging staggering amounts for South films, and their star power makes it worth every penny, say filmmakers
International star Priyanka Chopra has reportedly outpriced her Bollywood peers, charging a whopping Rs25 crore for her upcoming film with Mahesh Babu and S.S. Rajamouli. In comparison, Deepika Padukone reportedly earned Rs13 crore for Kalki 2898 AD, while Janhvi Kapoor’s pay packet is Rs10 crore-plus for RC 16.
Producer Lagadapati Sridhar explains how actresses are now more than just performers — “they are brands. Earlier, Rajamouli worked with relatively new faces like Bhumika Chawla (Simhadri), Priyamani (Yamadonga), Anushka Shetty (Vikramarkudu), and Shriya Saran (Chatrapathi), making them stars.
But after Baahubali, his reach became pan-India, leading him to cast Alia Bhatt in RRR. Now, with RRR’s global success, he is collaborating with Priyanka Chopra, a Hollywood celebrity, for his next pan-world adventure with Mahesh Babu.”
It’s not just films driving up these actresses’ paychecks. Their influence extends beyond cinema through international endorsements and massive social media followings. Deepika and Janhvi’s millions of followers on Instagram and X make them invaluable assets. Their reach creates a huge viewership base, enhancing their brand equity. This justifies their high remunerations, and Telugu filmmakers see it as a worthy investment,” Sridhar says.
Meanwhile, top Tollywood actresses like Kajal Aggarwal, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rashmika Mandanna, and Mrunal Thakur are reportedly earning around Rs4 crore per film, way lower than their Bollywood counterparts.
Ironically, Rashmika is the most sought after actress in both South and HIndi film industries. But her remuneration is yet to rise!
