7 Highest Paid Actresses Of The South Film Industry
While the long pressing issue about equal pay has been in the news for a while now, we can only see small steps taken towards bridging that gap. The unequal pay is prevalent in every industry and the entertainment industry is not an exception. Actresses work equally hard or sometimes more to build a career and establish themselves as a star but it is sad to see that their male co-stars get paid more than them. However, it is also important to acknowledge that there has been a considerable amount of change in the industry. During the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2019, Sonam Kapoor along with others addressed this issue. Sonam said that as women it is important to stick together, rather than pulling each other down and together fight the system against unequal pay. That being said, several South Indian actresses have reached the top level when it comes to their pay scale. From Samantha Akkineni to Nayanthara, here is a list of South Indian beauties who have made it as the highest-paid actresses in the industry.
1. Nayanthara
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Diana Mariam Kurian, best known as Nayanthara, predominantly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. She also works in Kannada and Telugu films and is currently one of the most popular actresses of the South Indian film fraternity. She started her acting career in 2003 with the Malayalam movie Manassinakkare sharing the screen with Jayaram. Since then she has proven to be exceptionally talented with her films. Having acted in more than 45 movies across the South Indian film industry, Nayanthara earns about Rs. 2 crores per movie. She is the only actress from the South Indian Film Industry to make it to the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list in 2018 and follows a strict no promotion policy for all her films.
2. Samantha Akkineni
Born in Chennai, Samantha Akkineni is known for acting in Tamil and Telugu movies. She has won several awards for her acting ability including not just one but four Filmfare Awards. She began her acting career in 2010 and in just a decade has become one of the highest-paid actresses of South India. Her latest 2019 film Super Deluxe was a superhit and she was praised for her character. She earns Rs. 2 crores per movie and has done over 40 films to date.
3. Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu is a name that is well known even in Bollywood. She has acted in movies with megastars like Amitabh Bachchan and has become a popular industry celeb. Taapsee began her acting career in 2010 in a Telugu movie and since then has acted in several South Indian movies. The actress, who looks gorgeous rocking her curls, has acted in more than 40 films and charges a sum of Rs. 2 crores for one film.
4. Anushka Shetty
Model and actress, Anushka Shetty is known for her work in Telugu and Tamil films. She began her acting career in 2005 in Puri Jagannadh’s film Super. Anushka Shetty, whose real name is Sweety Shetty is also a yoga instructor. She rose to fame worldwide after her box office hit film Baahubali. It shattered world records for being the first Indian film to make Rs. 75 crores on the first day of its release. Anushka Shetty was highly praised for her performance in the film. The actress reportedly earns around Rs. 5 crores per film.
5. Kajal Aggarwal
Even though the actress made her acting debut in the Bollywood film Kyun!, she gained popularity in the South Indian film industry. Kajal Aggarwal established her career in the Telugu and Tamil movie industry and is currently one of the highest-paid actresses. Kajal earns close to 3 crores per film and has acted in super hit films like Singham and Special 26.
6. Tamannaah
A name well established in the entertainment industry, Tamanna Bhatia, professionally known as Tamannaah is a prominent figure in Telugu and Tamil films. She has also acted in a number of Bollywood films like Himmatwala and Hamshakals. Currently, she earns around Rs. 2 crores per movie.
7. Shruti Haasan
Born into a family of talent, Shruti Haasan is the daughter of the famous superstar Kamal Haasan and Sarika Thakur. She is known for her roles in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films. Shruti started her career with a cameo in the film Hey Ram in 2000 but her first major appearance was in the Bollywood movie Luck in 2009. She is also a playback singer and composer. One of the highest-paid actresses in the industry, Shruti earns close to Rs. 2.5 crores per movie.
It is wonderful to see that there is a change in the entertainment industry today where actresses are being paid well. Although there is still a lack of parity in the incomes of male and female entertainers, small steps of change are visible. Who is your favorite actress from our list? Share with us your thoughts on equal pay in the comments below.
