While many of us associate Indian cinema with Bollywood and masala movies, that’s just one aspect of the film industry. Regional cinema from South Indian movies to Tollywood of Bengal have all been delivering art for decades and have quite a few famous actors and actresses in their Hall of Fame. Today, let us take a look at the richest actors and actresses in India and see where they hail from.
Who Rules Indian Cinema: The Richest Acting Stars and Where They Started
While most of us will think Indian cinema is Bollywood and the masala movies, Indian films come from a variety of places. From Tollywood in Bengal to South Indian classics, the Indian cinema landscape is filled with art and diversity. Much like the country itself. So today, let us take a look at the ten highest paid acting stars in India currently as IMDB ranks them and see where they started their journey to fame.
Richest Acting Stars of India
- Shah Rukh Khan
King Khan has a vice grip on the heart of Indian cinemophils, especially romance fans. With his iconic pose, acting skills, fame and soulful eyes, it is no wonder that he is the highest paid actor in Indian cinema. But did you know the King of Bollywood started with television appearances and only entered Bollywood in 1992 with Deewana?
- Salman Khan
Another household name, Salman Khan started his career as a supporting artist in the 1988 film Biwi toh Aise Hai but as everyone knows Maine Pyar Kiya was his big debut.
- Amitabh Bachchan
Also known as Big B, Bachchan senior started his career as voice narrator in 1969’s Bhuvan Shome and then went on to become the Angry Young Man who was the beloved icon of his times.
- Juhi Chawla
While Chawla’s first film appearance was a small part in 1986’s Bollywood movie Sultanat, many say that her breakthrough film was the commercially successful
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Kannada-Tamil bilingual film named Premaloka or Paruva Ragam in Tamil. After this, Chawla became an overnight star after her award winning performance in Qyamat se Qyamat Tak.
- Hrithik Roshan
While Roshan had appearances as a child actor, his cinema debut was in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai where he played a dual role. His role not only garnered several awards but was also critically praised. Today, he is known for his versatile roles.
- Akshay Kumar
While Akshya Kumar began his film career in 1991 with Saugandh and got his first commercial success a year later with the action thriller Khiladi, he had also worked as model. His experience also includes being a background dancer in films, before landing his titular roles. Just shows there’s no one path to success in cinema.
- Ajay Degan
Starting with a stunt that stunned in Bollywood’s Phool Aur Kaante, Devgan has always showed versatility as an actor, known especially for intensity in his acting.
- Aamir Khan
While Aamir Khan top gained popularity from Qyamat se Qyamat Tak, he began acting with roles in documentaries made by students. His first film project is recorded to be Holi, an experimental film on ragging.
- Chiranjeevi
The famous Telegu star’s first released film was Pranam Khareedu in 1978 but it was Mana Voori Pandavulu that gave Chiranjeevi recognition from the Telugu audience, and he has not looked back since.
- Nagarjuna Akkinei
The adult Nagarjuna Akkinei got fame after his debut in the 1986 Telugu film Vikram. His work in the romantic drama Geetanjali, won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment in 1990. Followed by this was the movie Shiva, a trendsetter in Telugu cinema that made Nagarjuna a superstar, even before his Bollywood debut in the remake of the same film.
While the list may seem dominated by Bollywood films, it still holds true that there’s no one way to make it in Indian cinema. Many argue that the path is getting tougher, but these names prove that it is possible for art to make it big in a variety of ways, and from a number of starting points.
