Top tier actors from the Tamil film industry continue to bank in on their stardom, and maintain a wide gap between their remuneration per film, and the actors who rank below them in the salary order. Star actor Vijay in particular maintains a significant pay differential per movie, and this is thanks to an all-time high hype surrounding his film career.
Vijay is set to leave the movies for politics in 2026, and he is taking home paycheques ranging from Rs. 200 Cr. - Rs. 250 Cr. with each of his last two movies. While Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar continue to maintain their top-tier status, star actor Kamal Haasan has made a big jump remuneration wise, from the last time the salaries of Kollywood actors was reported on here.
1. Vijay (Rs. 200 - Rs. 250 Cr.)
With the launch of his political party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam in February 2024, Vijay announced to the public for the first time that he is quitting cinema. Vijay's last two films are The Greatest of All Time and an yet-to-be- announced Thalapathy 69 (tentative title), the actor's salary for these movies has seen a massive jump from Varisu (Rs. 125 Cr.) and Leo.
Vijay is the first and the only Tamil film actor to be offered a salary range of Rs. 200 Cr. - Rs. 250 Cr. at the moment.
2. Ajith Kumar (Rs. 163 Cr.)
Brand Ajith has been on a steady rise monetarily despite Ajith Kumar - the personality not being much in the public eye, or even Ajith - the actor not being part of many movies. 2 years ago Ajith was signed by Lyca Productions for Rs. 105 Cr., and that project is currently being filmed as Vidaa Muyarchi.
However the box-office success of Thunivu (2023), and brand Ajith's theatrical guarantee has spiked Ajith Kumar's salary to upto Rs. 163 Cr for Good Bad Ugly, surpassing the likes of 'Superstar' Rajinikanth in terms of remuneration.
3. Rajinikanth (Rs. 140 - Rs. 150 Cr.)
Even before Jailer (2023) became the biggest hit from the Tamil film industry that year, Rajinikanth was taking home the highest salary from Kollywood (Rs. 120 - 125 Cr.). However with a mid-career-high special apperance like Lal Salaam (2024), which bombed at the box-office, Rajinikanth's salary has not seen the hike it ought to have.
Still, the Superstar continues to reign in the top 3 Tamil film salaries. For the upcoming Vettaiyan (Lyca Productions) and Thalaivar 171 (Sun Pictures), Rajinikanth is seeing a pay day of upto Rs. 150 Cr.
4. Kamal Haasan (Rs. 100 Cr+ Hindi Rights)
The box-office success of Vikram (2022) and hosting 7 seasons of the Bigg Boss Tamil show has really revamped Kamal Haasan's market value. At the moment, the Ulaganayan is the only one of the four Tamil stars to charge upwards of Rs. 100 Cr. for a single movie.
With every movie he does, Kamal Haasan takes home Rs. 100 Cr+, and the Hindi rights of the said film. Kamal Haasan currently awaits the release of Indian 2 and Thug Life (both Tamil movies) as a lead star. The actor also makes a special appearance in the Telugu-Hindi bilingual Kalki 2898 AD.
5. Suriya (Rs. 60 Cr)
Suriya's asking price for a movie in the post-pandemic era, continues to remain upto Rs. 70 Cr. However the highest the star actor has taken home so far is Rs. 60 Cr. As a lead star, Suriya currently awaits the release of an ambitious project titled Kanguva.
6. Sivakarthikeyan (Rs. 55 Cr.)
Probably the only actor in the Tamil film industry who has maintained a steady box-office success rate, and a upward pay-graph over the years. The back-to-back success of Maaveeran (2023), and Ayalaan (2024) means that Sivakarthikeyan's salary is Rs. 55 Cr. per film, and he is catching up to Suriya's market at this rate.
Sivakarthikeyan has two upcoming releases namely Amaran with Kamal Haasan's production banner, and an untitled SK 23 with director AR Murugadoss.
7. Dhanush (upto Rs. 50 Cr.)
Actor Dhanush's market is in the same league as Sivakarthikeyan's. Only difference being that Dhanush's salary per film depends on the team he is working with, and the size of his movie. The actor prefers to squeeze in quickies in this filmography, instead of just focussing on a target set of movies.
This means that despite Dhanush's salary being Rs. 50 Cr. per movie, the actor adjusts as low as Rs. 35 Cr. as well.
8. Karthi (Rs. 25 Cr. to Rs. 28 Cr.)
The back to back success of movies starting from Viruman (2022) till Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), has amped Karthi's salary range between Rs. 25 Cr. to Rs. 28 Cr per movie. The actor currently awaits the release of Mei Azhagan (with director Prem Kumar) and Vaa Vaathiyaare (with director Nalan Kumarasamy).
Karthi also has sequels to two franchise hits - Sardar 2 and Kaithi 2 in the pipeline.
9. Silambarasan TR (Rs. 25 Cr.)
The post-pandemic era has been a successful one for Silambarasan TR, and besides bagging promising projects and having hardly any misses, the actor is also at a point where he asks upto Rs. 50 Cr. as salary per movie.
However, the Tamil film producers have so far only been ready to pay up Rs. 25 Cr. as Silambarasan TR's remuneration. Silambarasan TR will next be seen in Thug Life with director Mani Ratnam, and STR 48 a production venture of Kamal Haasan's.
10. Vishal (upto Rs. 25 Cr.)
2023 marked a new turning point in actor Vishal's career. The wide success of Mark Antony film has put the Vishal's market value at an all time high of Rs. 25 Cr. Vishal currently is part of Raththam with director Hari, and Thupparivaalan 2 that the actor is self-directing.
11. Jayam Ravi (Rs. 20 Cr. - Rs. 25 Cr.)
Actor Jayam Ravi at his peak was quoting upto Rs. 30 Cr. per film, but due to the misses that followed the mega success of Ponniyin Selvan movies, Jayam Ravi's salary stands between Rs. 20 Cr. - Rs. 25 Cr. per movie.
Jayam Ravi is currently part of two light-hearted movies titled Brother and Genie.
12. Vikram (Rs. 20 Cr.)
The success of Ponniyin Selvan movies in theaters, has helped actor Chiyaan Vikram maintain a salary of Rs. 20 Cr. per film. Vikram will next been seen in Thangalaan with director Pa. Ranjith, and his long-delayed Dhruva Natchathiram with director Gautham Vasudev Menon also awaits release.
13. Vijay Sethupathi (Rs. 18 Cr.)
The only actor on this list who is seen in as many lead roles as supporting, Vijay Sethupathi at his peak charged even upto Rs. 50 Cr. for an OTT web-series. However the actor is no longer seeing a fluctuating salary, and has a standard ask of Rs. 18 Cr. per movie appearance.
Vijay Sethupathi will next be seen as a lead actor in Tamil film Maharaja (with director Seenu Ramasamy), and in a supporting role in Viduthalai: Part 2 (with director Vetrimaaran).
14. Arya (Rs. 15 Cr.)
Actor Arya's releases in the last two years missed the mark big time, but the actor's salary has maintained at Rs. 15 Cr. per film despite the same. Arya will next be seen in a Telugu film titled Saindhav, an in Tamil Arya will be seen playing the lead in Mr. X.
15. Soori (Rs. 6 - Rs. 10 Cr.)
Comedy actor Soori debuted as a lead with the Vetrimaaran directed Viduthalai: Part 1 (2023). Soori's impressive performance hasn't been a one-off wonder, and the actor is continually focussing lead-acting projects like Viduthalai: Part 2 (lead role alongside Vijay Sethupathi), Garudan (lead role alongside Sasikumar, Unni Mukundan), Yezhi Kadal Yezhu Mazhai and Kootu Kaali.
Soori's salary per movie ranges between Rs. 6 Cr. - Rs. 10 Cr., which is way higher than upcoming lead actors of the Tamil film industry. Soori also plays male lead in a 100-minute film titled The Adamant Girl, a production venture of actor Sivakarthikeyan. The Adamant Girl currently awaits theatrical release.
16. Vishnu Vishal (Rs. 4 Cr.)
Actor Vishnu Vishal's last known hits have been his home banner productions. Vishnu Vishal is known to take home a salary of Rs. 4 Cr. per movie. His upcoming movies Mohandas and Aaryan are also under his own banner Vishnu Vishal Studioz.
17. Kavin (Rs. 2.5 Cr.)
A promising upcoming talent, actor Kavin's last two movies Lift (2021) and Dada (2023) have seen significant success at the box-office. The actor currently charges Rs. 2.5 Cr. per movie and will next be seen in Star (with director Elan) and Kiss.
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