India is the home of a very diverse film industry. The Indian Cinema has various branches, each representing a particular language. In this list, we take a look at who’s India’s richest actor. This list comprises actors from different Indian cinemas, from Hindi to Telugu.
#15: Mahesh Babu - $30 million
Mahesh Babu’s full name is Ghattamamemi Mahesh Babu. He is an Indian actor, producer, and philanthropist. He works mainly in Tollywood or Telugu cinema. He was born on August 9, 1975, in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India, as the fourth of the five children of actor Krishna or Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy and his wife, Indira.
Mahesh Babu attended St. Bede’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai and Loyola College, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree.
Because of his family’s affiliation with Telugu cinema, Mahesh Babu got exposed to the spotlight at the young age of four in the 1979 film “Needa.”
#14: Sanjay Dutt - $30 million
Sanjay Dutt is another Indian actor whose Bollywood royalty. He is the son of actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt. Sanjay’s work primarily focuses on Hindu cinema. As a matter of fact, he has starred in over 200 films and won several awards. He made his debut in the movie “Rocky” (1981).
The actor was born to a Punjabi family in Bombay City, India. He is married to Richa Sharma, whom he married in 1987. Unfortunately, she died in 1996 due to a brain tumor, leaving his husband a widower and their only child Trishala Dutt without a mother.
In 1998, Dutt married Rhea Pillai on February 14. But then they divorced, and he later married Manyata in a Hindu ceremony in Mumbai. They have twin children, Shahraan Dutt and Iqra Dutt.
#13: Ranveer Singh - $35 million
Ranveer Singh has been a constant figure in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 List for the past ten years. He is one of India’s highest-paid actors and a recipient of various awards and recognitions, such as five Filmfare awards.
Ranveer Singh was born Ranveer Singh Bhavnani on July 6, 1985, in Bombay, Maharashtra, India (presently Mumbai). He grew up in a Sindhi family, a socio-ethnic group from Sindh, a province in what is now known as Pakistan. His parents’ names are Anju and Jagjit Singh Bjavnani.
Acting has been in Ranveer’s blood. He is the paternal grandson of the actress Chand Burke. However, this did not mean that entering the industry would be easier for him, and he learned that the hard way. Ranveer did not get his big break in the industry for quite some time, making him turn to get an education instead. Ranveer Singh studied at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Afterward, he flew to the United States to study at Indiana University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree.
After earning his degree, he returned to India, working at an advertising agency as a copywriter. It was in 2010 that he obtained a breakthrough in his career.
#12: Ranbir Kapoor - $42 million
Ranbir Kapoor is one of India’s most bankable actors. According to reports, Ranbir Kapoor asks $800,000 per day for an endorsement deal. This might be hard to believe, but brands such as Asian Paints, Pepsi, Panasonic, Renault, and Flipkart have confirmed this to the Hindustan Times.
Ranbir Kapoor was born on September 28, 1982, to Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh in Bombay, Maharashtra. His parents were Bollywood actors, while his great-grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor was an actor-director. Hence, it is not unusual for him to be in the business.
#11: Ajay Devgn - $55 million
Born Vishal Veery Devgan, Ajay Devgn is an actor, and film producer, who appeared in hundreds of films in Hindi cinema. He is an award-winning actor boasting a National Film Award, Filmfare Award, and Padma Shri.
He began his career in 1991 in the film “Phool Aur Kaante,” but he got famous when he portrayed an action hero in the movie “Jigar” (1992), “Sangram” (1993), “Dilwale” (1994), “Dilijale” (1996), and “Kachche Dhaage” (1999).
Ajay Devgn is part of the Saraswathi-Vishwakarma family from Amritsar, Punjab. His family is in the Hindu film industry. The Indian actor’s father, Veeru Devgan, works as a stunt choreographer and action film director in the Hindu Film industry. At the same time, his mother, Veena, is a producer of various Hindu films.
Devgn attended Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithbai College. He is married to Kajol Mukherjee, and they have two children, a daughter named Nyssa, born in 2003, and a son named Yug, born in 2010.
Ajay Devgn is the first Indian actor to ever own a private jet which he uses to transport him from various shooting locations.
#10: Anupam Kher - $55 million
Anupam Kher is known in Bollywood for being a versatile actor and, simultaneously, the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India. As an actor, Kher has received numerous awards, including eight Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award.
He was born on March 7, 1955, to a Kashmiri Pandit Family from Shimla. Pushkar Nat Kher, his father, was a clerk from the Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh, while his mother, Dulari Kher, was a housewife. The actor was educated at D.A.V. School in Shimla and then took up Economics at Government College-Sanjauli. Later, he attended the Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla but did not finish his studies and transferred to Panjab University, where he studied Indian Theatre.
#9: Shahid Kapoor - $70 million
Shahid Kapoor is known for his roles in Romantic movies. He is one of India’s most bankable actors and a recipient of various awards, including three Filmfare Awards. Kapoor is the son of Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem. He was born in New Delhi, India, on February 25, 1981.
His parents divorced when he was just three years old. He continued living in New Delhi while his father left for Mumbai. Because of his parent’s divorce, Kapoor was mainly raised by his grandfather, who worked for the Russian magazine “Sputnik.”
Shahid Kapoor’s net worth has grown after he increased his salary to $4.6 million per film.
#8: Kamal Hassan - $100 million
Kamal Hassan is known for his acting career and for producing various films. His net worth of $100 Million can be attributed to his multiple movies and his work as a politician and television presenter.
Kamal Haasan was born to a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family on November 7, 1954. His father, D. Srinivasan, was a lawyer and a freedom fighter, while his mother, Rajalakshmi, was a housewife. He has three siblings, Charuhasan, Chandrahasan, and Nalini, a classical dancer.
This Indian actor turned politician has won several awards, which include four National Film Awards, 20 Filmfare Awards, Kalaimamani Awards, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
#7: Saif Ali Khan - $150 million
Saif Ali Khan is a Bollywood royalty. He is the son of Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore and the cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Khan’s career rose to fame in “Yeh Dillagi.”
Saif Ali Khan was born in New Delhi, India, on August 16, 1970. He has two siblings, Saba Ali Khan, a jewelry designer, and Soha Ali Khan, an actress. Khan was educated at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, and Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire. Later on, he enrolled at Winchester College.
#6: Aamir Khan - $205 million
Aamir Khan is known in India as Mr. Perfectionist. Aside from being an actor, Khan is also a film director and Hindu film producer. One of his most famous films “Dangal” (2016), earned him $340 million at the box office. Another factor for his high net worth is his various endorsement deals, estimated to be around $1.50 million per endorsement.
Aamir Khan was born Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan on March 14, 1965. He was the son of Tahir Hussain, a film producer, and Zeenat Hussain. Like Hrithik Roshan, Khan’s family is also in the indsutry. He is related to the director Abdul Kalam Azad Nasir Hussain and Abu Kalam Azad.
Aamir Khan is a recipient of various awards, such as Padma Shri (2003) and Padma Bhushan (2010).
#5: Salman Khan - $260 million
Salman Khan is a notable T.V. personality in various Hindi films. As a matter of fact, his career has spanned 30 years. Khan started in the industry as a supporting actor. As of 2022, Salma Khan is already worth $260. A significant factor in his high net worth is his own production company called “Salman Khan Films.”
Salman Khan was born on December 27, 1965, to Salim Khan, a screenwriter, and Sushila Chalak. He is the stepson of the Indian actress Helen Ann Richardson Khan.
The 55-year-old actor is notable for the films “Wanted” (2009), “Dabangg” (2010), and many more.
#4: Akshay Kumar - $340 million
Akshay Kumar is one of India’s most successful actors. With a net worth of $340 Million, Kumar is the only Indian actor ever to be included in Forbes’ “2020 World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities.” Most of his wealth comes from his various endorsements and films, which span hundreds since he began acting back in 1991.
Akshay Kumar was born to a Punjabi Family. He grew up in a sport-loving family in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. However, they later moved to Mumbai after his father worked with UNICEF as an accountant. Later on, Kumar studied at Don Bosco High School, Matunga. Afterward, he enrolled at Guru Nanak Khalsa College. But then on, he dropped out of school.
He studied Martial Arts and proceeded to teach them. One of his students was a child of a model and coordinator who recommended him to a modeling agency. This would be the start of his career.
#3: Hrithik Roshan - $370 million
Hrithik Roshan is one of Bollywood’s highest-paid actors, and because of this, it is not unusual that he has a net worth of $370 million. Roshan was born on January 10, 1974, to a prominent Bombay family. His father is the famous director Rakesh Roshan.
Hrithik Roshan is no stranger to the film indsutry. As a matter of fact, it is in his blood. Besides that, his father is a film director, and his mother’s side of the family also has ties with the industry. His grandfather from his mother’s side is producer and director J. Om Prakash. Roshan studied at Bombay Scottish School together with his older sister.
#2: Amitabh Bachchan - $400 million
Amitabh Bachchan debuted in the Bollywood industry back in the 70s. Looking back on the early days of his career, one might need help to think that he would be one of Bollywood’s wealthiest actors. Amitabh used to be a struggling actor with a fair share of flop movies, but he was able to rise above those problems.
Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (now Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India). He was born to prominent parents, particularly Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan. Amitabh was well-educated, having been brought up at Sherwood Collee, Nainital, Kirori Mal College, and finally, the University of Delhi.
The Indian actor does not only star in Bollywood films, but he also appears in some Hollywood films. Some of his most prominent movies are “Piku” (2015), “Pink” (2016), and “Thugs of Hindustan” (2018), and he also appeared in the Hollywood film “The Great Gatsby” (2013).
Amitabh Bachchan is married to Jaya Bachchan, and they have two children together, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan-Nanda.
#1: Shah Rukh Khan - $750 million
Debuting in 1992, Shah Rukh Khan rose to fame after his movie “Baazigar.” He is the richest Bollywood actor, with a net worth of $750 million, and one of the most in demand. He boasts numerous acting awards, including 14 Filmfare Awards: Ordre des Arts es Lettres, Padma Shri, and Legion of Honor.
Shah Rukh Khan is also known as S.R.K. He was born on November 2, 1965, making him 57 years old now. S.R.K. was brought up in a Muslim Family. His father’s name is Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, while his mother is Lateef Fatima. Khan spent most of his childhood in New Delhi and attended St. Columba’s School, located in the heart of New Delhi. Afterwards, he attended Hansraj College in 1985 to major in Economics.
S.R.K. is married to Gauri Chibber, who he wed in 1991. They have three children. The eldest is Aryan, who was born in 1997. He studied at the U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts. Their second born is, Suhana, who was born in 2000. She is studying drama at N.Y.U.’s Tisch School of the Arts. The youngest child is Abram, who was born in 2013 via surrogacy.