In Indian cinema, several top stars command remuneration exceeding ₹100 crore. Superstars like Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Yash, and Vijay earn massive paychecks due to their ability to guarantee huge box office openings, regardless of a film’s content or director.
However, very few actresses can single-handedly draw audiences to theaters, making it rare for them to receive even a fraction of what leading male actors earn. Only a handful—such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Alia Bhatt—have reached the stage where they can demand ₹15-20 crore per film.
While unconfirmed, reports suggest that Kiara Advani has now entered the list of highest-paid Bollywood actresses. Allegedly, she is being paid ₹15 crore for her debut Kannada film, Toxic, where she stars opposite Yash (KGF fame).
A Bollywood media outlet reported that Kiara has charged ₹15 crore for Toxic, which is directed by Geetu Mohandas. If true, this would mark a significant leap in her remuneration. However, it raises questions, as she was reportedly paid only ₹5 crore for Game Changer with Ram Charan—a film that failed at the box office. Given that, why would the makers of Toxic triple her fee?
Toxic will also be Kiara’s last project before she takes a maternity break. The actress recently announced her pregnancy and is expecting her first child with husband and actor Sidharth Malhotra.4) Ram Charan puts Nani in trouble.
Kiara made her South Indian film debut with the Telugu political drama Bharat Ane Nenu (2018), starring opposite superstar Mahesh Babu. Directed by Koratala Siva, the film was a massive box office success.
Vinaya Vidheya Rama (2019). Following the success of Bharat Ane Nenu, Kiara starred in Vinaya Vidheya Rama (2019) opposite Ram Charan. The Boyapati Srinu-directed action film had high expectations but was a critical and commercial failure. Then, Kiara was cast opposite Ram Charan once again in Game Changer, directed by Shankar, which again bombed at the box-office.
Her Kannada debut in Toxic, co-starring Yash of KGF fame, is her fourth film in South Indian cinema.