Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Akshay Kumar increases acting fees for films set to arrive in 2022?

By: Mohnish Singh

There is no denying the fact that Akshay Kumar is one of the most commercially successful actors working in Bollywood today. His presence in a film ensures a great opening at the box-office. If we take a look at his track record in the past few years, he has hardly disappointed audiences as all his films managed to set the ticket window on fire.


The latest we hear that the superstar has decided to increase his acting fees because of his huge demand in the market. “Over the last few months in the lockdown, Akshay Kumar has gradually hiked his fees from ₹99 crores (990 million) to ₹108 crores (1080 million) and finally settled in on ₹117 (1170 million) crores for the films he signed recently. Every producer wants to have Akshay on board, considering his low risk, low budget, and assured return model, leading to excessive demand in the market. Akshay too has followed the economic formula of higher the demand, higher the price, as with every film offer coming his way, he hiked his fees. For the films which are slated for a 2022 release, Akshay will charge a bomb of ₹135 crores (1350) per film,” informs a source close to the actor.

The source goes on to add, “The production budget of most Akshay Kumar films will be in the range of ₹35 (350 million) to ₹45 crores (450 million), in addition to ₹15 crores (150 million) more for print and publicity, taking the total in the range of ₹50 (500 million) to ₹60 crores (600 million). Taking the number of his acting fees into account, the overall budget of his films would be in the range of ₹185 (1850 million) to ₹195 crores (1950 million). Doing a backward calculation in the account, his films earn approximately ₹80 (800 million) to ₹90 crores (900 million) from the sale of satellite and digital, whereas ₹10 crores (100 million) more comes from the sale of music rights, leaving an amount in the range of ₹95 (950 million) to ₹100 crores (1000 million) for recovery from theatres, meaning lifetime box-office collections of ₹210-220 crores (2100-2200 million) in India. This is not as big a number for him to achieve, given his stardom and trust among the audience. And in 2021, it’s a rather easy number for a superstar like Akshay.”

Kumar’s upcoming films include Sooryavanshi, Bell Bottom, Prithviraj, Bachchan Pandey, Atrangi Re, Raksha Bandhan, and Ram Setu.

More For You

How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Inside Netflix’s 50% surge: the regional creators and stories driving Southeast Asia’s global rise

AI Generated

How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Highlights:

  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
  • Premium VOD revenue in the region reached £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore) last year, with 53.6 million subscriptions.
  • Netflix holds more than half of the region’s total viewing and remains its biggest investor in originals.
  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

Keep ReadingShow less