As a fan of South Indian movies, you may be curious as to who the richest south Indian actor is. Considering the global success South Indian cinema has seen in recent years with films such as Baahubali 2, KGF, and RRR, it is inevitable that such a question pops into the mind of viewers.
As you may know, South Indian cinema is rife with larger than life action, beautiful imagery, and powerful films that can be life-changing. It is only right that the actors that work hard day and night to bring these to life be paid the amount they deserve. Without their immense dedication to hardcore action scenes and intense dances, the cinema would never have reached the success it has today. So without further ado, we bring you the top 10 richest South Indian actor list. Read till the end to find out all the highest earning actors in Southern cinema!
Contents
List Of Top 12 Richest Actors In South India :
1. Ram Charan, 37 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹1288 Crore
Ram Charan is one of the highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema. He has received several awards, including three Filmfare Awards and two Nandi Awards. He made his acting debut with Chirutha in 2007 and has also worked in blockbuster films such as Magadheera, Rangasthalam, and RRR.
In 2016, he launched his own production house, Konidela Production Company. He also owns the polo team Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club and co-owns the regional airline service TruJet. With a net worth of Rs. 1300 crore, Charan is one of the most successful actors in the Telugu film industry today.
2. Akkineni Nagarjuna, 62 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹3010 Crores
Akkineni Nagarjuna is a well-known Indian actor who has predominantly worked in Telugu films. Born in 1959, Nagarjuna has appeared in over 100 films and has received various awards for his work, including nine state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and two National Film Awards. He is particularly well known for his work in biographical films and represented the Cinema of South India at the Delhi Film Festival’s 100 Years of Indian Cinema’s celebration in 2013.
Nagarjuna began his acting career as a child artist in 1967 and has since gone on to establish himself as a leading actor in the Telugu film industry. In addition to his work in film, Nagarjuna is also a successful entrepreneur. He is the co-owner of the Mumbai Masters of the Indian Badminton League, Mahi Racing Team India, and Annapurna Studios. He is also the President of the non-profit film school Annapurna International School of Film and Media based in Hyderabad. With a net worth of Rs. 950 Crore, Nagarjuna is one of the richest actors in India.
3. Kamal Haasan, 67 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹450 Crores
Kamal Haasan is a name that is synonymous with excellence in the Indian film industry. Born in 1954, he has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali films over the course of his illustrious career. He is a recipient of 4 National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards, among other prestigious accolades. His breakout role came in the 1975 drama Apoorva Raagangal, and he has since gone on to star in many popular films including Moondram Pirai, Swathi Muthyam, Nayakan, Indian, Hey Ram and Dasavathaaram.
In 2013, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th Mumbai International Film Festival. Kamal Haasan’s immense talent and contribution to Indian cinema was recognised with the Kalaimamani award in 1984, The Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016. With over 230 films to his credit, Kamal Haasan is truly one of the most legendary names in Indian cinema. He is one of the most successful actors in India, with a net worth of Rs. 388 Crore.
4. Rajnikanth, 71 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹410 Crore
Rajnikanth is one of the most popular and highest-grossing actors in Tamil cinema history. Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in 1950, he has appeared in over 150 films, winning numerous awards along the way, including four Tamil Nadu State Film Best Actor Awards and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award. In 2000, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan and in 2016 with the Padma Vibhushan, two of India’s highest civilian awards.
His 1995 film Baashha earned him a ‘god-like’ status in Tamil Nadu, and his 2007 film Sivaji was the third Indian film to enter the 100 Crore Club. Rajnikanth’s 2010 science fiction film Enthiran and its 2018 sequel 2.0 were both India’s most expensive production at the time of their release. With an estimated net worth of Rs. 410 crores, Rajnikanth is one of the richest South Indian actors.
5. Vijay, 48 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹445 Crores
Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, better known simply as Vijay, is a Tamil actor who has appeared in over 65 films. He made his debut in 1984, at the age of 10, with the film Vetri and rose to prominence in the 90s with hits like Poove Unakkaga, Priyamudan, Azhagiya Tamil Magan, and Thirumalai. Throughout his career, Vijay has won numerous awards, including eight Vijay Awards by Star India, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards by the Government of Tamil Nadu, and a SIIMA Award.
He is one of the highest-paid actors in Tamil cinema and has a net worth of Rs. 420 crores. In addition to his acting career, Vijay has also sung several songs for his films and released several albums. He is also known for his fabulous dancing skills with songs like Aalaporan Tamizhan and Selfie Pulla, and thanks to his skills he has made it on our richest South Indian actor list!
6. Mohanlal, 62 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹376 Crore
Mohanlal is a veteran actor who has appeared in over 400 films in a career spanning four decades. Hailing from Kerala, he is best known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won five National Film Awards and has been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, making him one of the most decorated actors in India.
In addition to his film work, Mohanlal is also known for his philanthropic endeavours. He is the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army, and he has also been active in supporting various social causes. Some of his notable films include Kabali, Villain, and Asuran. With a net worth of Rs. 376 crores, Mohanlal is one of the wealthiest actors in India.
7. Allu Arjun, 40 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹370 Crores
Allu Arjun is a well-known Indian actor who predominantly works in Telugu films. He is also known for his amazing dancing skills and has won several awards, including five Filmfare Awards South and five Nandi Awards. Allu Arjun made his debut with the film Gangotri in 2003 and rose to prominence with the films Arya, Bunny, Desamuduru, and Parugu.
His film Pushpa: The Rise, which was released in 2021, was a huge success and is ranked among the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time. Allu Arjun is also the celebrity brand ambassador for the Pro Kabaddi League and for the streaming service Aha. According to reports, his net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 350 Crore.
8. Prabhas, 42 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹215 Crores
Prabhas is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema. He has worked predominantly in Telugu cinema, making his acting debut with the 2002 Telugu drama Eeswar. He rose to prominence with his lead role in the highly successful film Baahubali: The Beginning, which is the fourth highest-grossing Indian film to date.
The success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion made Prabhas the first south Indian actor to receive a wax sculpture at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. It is also the second highest-grossing Indian film to date. With a net worth of Rs. 215 crores, Prabhas is one of the richest actors in India. He is also the brand ambassador for the Mahindra TUV300, cementing his status as a leading man in the South Indian film industry.
9. Dhanush, 39 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹148 Crores
Dhanush is a Tamil film actor, director, producer, and playback singer who has predominantly worked in the Tamil film industry. Born on 28th July 1983, Dhanush made his acting debut in the 2002 film Thulluvadho Ilamai and went on to appear in over 46 films over the course of his career. Some of his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films include Polladhavan, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Aadukalam and Asuran.
In 2013, Dhanush made his Bollywood debut with Raanjhanaa which was very well received by audiences and critics alike. He is also popular for his songs “Why This Kolaveri Di” and “Rowdy Baby” which have become massive hits with fans all over the world. As of 2022, he is one of the richest South Indian actors, with a net worth estimated to be Rs. 148 Crore.
10. Rana Daggubati, 37 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹44 Crores
Ramanaidu “Rana” Daggubati, born on 14 December 1984, is a well-known Indian actor who has predominantly worked in Telugu language films. His acting debut was with the 2010 film Leader for which he received critical acclaim. He later went on to star as Bhallaladeva, the main antagonist, in the 2015 Telugu–Tamil bilingual film Baahubali: The Beginning, which was one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Some of his other successful films include Rudramadevi, Ghazi, and Nene Raju Nene Mantri. He has also worked in a few Hindi films like Dum Maaro Dum and Baby. Apart from his work in movies, he also has businesses like a business accelerator program for technology startups, an entertainment agency, and a comic book company. His estimated net worth is Rs. 44 Crore.
11. Mahesh Babu, 47 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹256 Crores
Mahesh Babu is a Telugu film actor, producer, media personality, and philanthropist. He is also the owner of the production company G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment Private Limited Ltd. Mahesh, the eldest son of actor Krishna, debuted as a child artist in Needa in 1979 at the age of four. He went on to appear in eight other films as a child artist. With Raja Kumarudu, he made his adult debut in 1999 and won the State Nandi Award for Best Male Debut.
Mahesh’s career prospects improved when he collaborated with Murugadoss on his first million-dollar film, Ghajini 2008. He also starred as the lead in the bilingual action thriller Spyder, directed by A. R. Murugadoss, and became the first South Indian actor to have a film released in both Tamil and Telugu at the same time. Aside from his acting career, Mahesh is a well-known celebrity endorser for brands and products, having appeared in over 100 advertisements. With an estimated net worth of Rs. 256 crores Mahesh Babu is one of the most successful Telugu actors.
12. Anushka Shetty, 40 Years Old
Net Worth: ₹119 Crores
Anushka Shetty is a model and actress who has made a name for herself in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. She is a very successful actress who has won three CineMAA Awards, a Nandi Award, a TN State Film Award, and three Filmfare Awards. She made her Telugu acting debut in the 2005 film Super, and the following year, she made her Tamil film debut in Aishwarya, an action drama co-starring Rajinikanth. In 2010, she appeared in the Tamil film Enthiran, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films.
She also received critical acclaim for her performance in the 2016 film Size Zero. Her portrayal of Princess Devasena in the Baahubali series received critical acclaim. While The Beginning was a commercial success, its sequel The Conclusion was even more successful and made Anushka Shetty the highest-paid actress in South Indian cinema. She has appeared in 47 films to date, making her one of the most successful actresses in South Indian cinema. Shetty, in addition to acting, is a yoga instructor who studied with yoga guru Bharat Thakur. She has an estimated net worth of 119 crore rupees.
Richest South Indian Actor – FAQs
Who Is Tollywood’s Richest Actor?
With a net worth above 3000 Crore Rupees, Nagarjuna is considered one of the richest actors in Tollywood. If you’re curious about him and who the richest Tollywood actor is, read the blog above.
Who is the number 1 South Indian actor?
Although one cannot pick a single actor as the number 1 from South India, Dhanush, Prabhas and Rajnikanth and perhaps the most well known actors in today’s day. To know more about who the richest actor in South India is, scroll up to the blog.
Who Is The Richest Tamil Actor?
Kamal Hassan is considered the richest Tamil actor with a net worth of approximately ₹450 Crores.
Who Is the Highest-Paid South Indian Actress?
Nayanthara is one of the highest paid South Indian actresses, with a net worth of approximately ₹165 Crores.
Richest South Indian Actor – Conclusion
As we come to an end of our blog about the richest South Indian actor, we can safely say that every actor that made it on the list deserves to be there. Their contributions to the world of cinema cannot be ignored. Each one of them has great zeal for their craft and have carefully honed what they do to perfection over the years. As the cinema finds recognition worldwide, we are excited to see the direction in which it shall proceed.
Without a doubt, we will keep seeing global hits from the world of South Indian cinema for years to come, which is a highly exciting prospect. We hope you found the answers you were looking for in the blog above. Which of the richest actor in South India is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Raj Kumar Prasad is a movie buff with a zest for travel and a passion for food. He enjoys sharing his adventures and insights at festalks.com. Whether he’s exploring new destinations, savoring different cuisines, or catching the latest flicks, Raj loves to engage with his readers and spark lively conversations. Dive into his world and discover fresh perspectives on all things fun and flavorful.