It is indeed the case that stars feature prominently on film posters and play a significant role in the promotional efforts. In the majority of major Indian films, it is the lead actors who attract audiences, which is reflected in their substantial salaries. However, there are certain film directors whose influence and popularity can compete with that of the biggest stars. One such director even matches superstars in terms of earnings, surpassing many renowned figures with his exceptionally high compensation.

India's highest-paid filmmaker

Telugu Filmmaker SS Rajamouli currently holds the title of India's highest-paid film director. As reported by IMDb, he commands a fee of approximately ₹200 crore for each film he directs. Industry insiders reveal that this figure encompasses his initial payment, a share of the profits, and bonuses from the sale of distribution rights. His earnings can increase significantly based on a film's box office performance; for instance, he earned around ₹200 crore for the film RRR. Rajamouli has reached this financial milestone largely due to the immense success of his Baahubali series. This ₹200-crore compensation positions him among the top-earning film professionals in the nation, surpassing even renowned stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who typically earn between ₹150-180 crore per film.

Why Rajamouli charges a fee so high

 The substantial compensation received by the filmmaker signifies his prominent status within the industry. RRR was promoted in the northern regions primarily as Rajamouli's project, even though it featured two major stars, Ram Charan and Jr NTR. This focus on Rajamouli is attributed to the widespread acclaim of the Baahubali series, which has established him as a recognizable figure across India. Baahubali 2 generated ₹510 crore in the Hindi market alone and held the record for the highest-grossing Hindi film for six years until it was overtaken by Pathaan in 2023. Likewise, RRR also achieved impressive earnings, surpassing ₹270 crore in Hindi.

Other highly-paid directors of Indian cinema

According to industry sources, no other director charges even half of what Rajamouli does, with big names like Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prasanth Neel charging around ₹90 crore per film. Rajkumar Hirani takes home ₹80 crore, while Sukumar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Lokesh Kanagaraj, and Siddharth Anand bring up the rear, with each charging in excess of ₹40 crore per film. Makers like Karan Johar and Rohit Shetty usually produce their own films, which is why they forego fees and only take in profits.

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