Yash Becomes India's Top-Paid Villain with ₹200 Crore Fee, Outshining Bollywood Superstars!
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It is often stated that the success of a film is largely dependent on its lead actor. This notion is particularly prevalent in Indian cinema, where it is frequently used to rationalize the substantial salaries that male protagonists receive. Currently, leading stars command fees exceeding ₹100 crore per film, a figure that was once the total production budget for entire films. While the salaries of these heroes have surged, the compensation for other artists has also risen, albeit to a lesser extent. Notably, a new category of film stars is emerging to challenge the dominance of lead actors: the villains. As more mainstream heroes transition into villainous roles in high-budget Indian films, they are beginning to surpass the earnings of the protagonists. The highest-earning among them has reportedly received an astonishing ₹200 crore for a single film.
India's highest-paid villain
Kannada film icon Yash, renowned for his role in the KGF film series, has achieved the distinction of being the highest-paid villain in Indian cinema's history. He is not only starring in but also co-producing Nitesh Tiwari's adaptation of the Ramayana. Reports indicate that his total compensation, including a share of the film's distribution, reaches ₹200 crore, surpassing that of the film's male lead, Ranbir Kapoor.
In this adaptation, Yash portrays the character of Ravana, solidifying his status as the highest-paid antagonist in any Indian film to date. He has surpassed Kamal Haasan, who was reportedly compensated between ₹25-40 crore for his cameo in Kalki 2898 AD.
How Yash beat even top Indian superstars
The ₹200 crore that Yash is set to receive for his role in Ramayana is a remarkable achievement. This sum significantly exceeds the fees charged by even the most prominent Bollywood stars for a single film. Excluding Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan has garnered approximately ₹150 crore per film in recent years. Similarly, Salman Khan has earned a comparable amount for his major successes, while Aamir Khan has not reached the ₹200 crore threshold since 2017. Prabhas, a leading figure in Telugu cinema, reportedly commands between ₹120 and ₹150 crore per film. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, the only three actors in Indian cinema who have surpassed ₹200 crore for a single film are South Indian superstars Allu Arjun, Rajinikanth, and Vijay.
