Kamal Haasan established one of the most spectacular careers in Indian cinema. He has constantly transformed himself over the past six decades, from a child artist to an actor, filmmaker, writer, producer and businessman. Kamal continues to be one of the country’s biggest stars, known for taking on challenging roles and using new filmmaking techniques. His success is not only seen in his accolades and box office successes but in the way his remuneration has increased along with his unparalleled contribution to the world of Indian cinema.
From starting at Rs 500 to one of the highest paid stars in India, Kamal Haasan’s salary rise
Kamal Haasan’s first salary as a child artist was in the 1960 classic ‘Kalathur Kannamma,’ where he was reportedly paid Rs 500. Years later, he got his big break as the lead actor in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975) and earned Rs 5,000, reports News 18. His market value steadily increased in the 1980s and early 1990s before he created history in 1994 by reportedly becoming the first Indian actor to command a fee of Rs 1 crore for in a film with ‘Mahanadhi.Later Kamal Haasan started experimenting with revenue sharing instead of fixed salaries.In a recent movie event, producer H. Murali said that for the film ‘Avvai Shanmugi,’ Kamal Haasan chose to get the distribution rights in four territories instead of his fee of Rs 1.5 crore. The decision turned out to be a huge success, and the actor is said to have earned around Rs 5 crore, more than a regular salary.
Big movies and television boosted Kamal’s income
Kamal Haasan’s bills keep increasing as his career graph rises. He was reportedly paid Rs 130 crore for his role in ‘Kalki 2898 AD,’ and later reports said he was paid close to Rs 150 crore for the sequel. Apart from his movies, Kamal Haasan has also become one of the highest paid television hosts in India through: Bigg Boss Tamilwhich earns around Rs 130 crore per season. Many times, he received credit for making one of the wisest business decisions of his life due to his willingness to accept profit sharing and distribution early in his career. Since then, the model has inspired many stars and producers to adopt similar business strategies.
The veteran star continues to headline ambitious projects
Kamal Haasan is a very busy actor despite being in the film industry for many years. His last movie, ‘Thug Life,’ was directed by: Mani Ratnam and released in 2025. This experienced actor is all set to appear in the sequel of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, playing the same character, and he will also star alongside Rajinikanth in the upcoming movie ‘KHxRK’.