Shah Rukh Khan is usually considered the highest paid actor in India. With a career spanning almost 4 decades, he often takes home large sums through a combination of upfront fees and massive profit shares – something which is expected of a star of his caliber.
However, the recent success of the Pushpa franchise has changed the pay structure of the industry. Following the record-breaking performance of Pushpa 2: The Rule, Allu Arjun is now being reported as the actor with the highest per-movie earnings in the country.
Allu Arjun is currently preparing for his next major project with director Atlee. The film, referred to by the working title AA22xA6, has quickly become one of the most talked-about upcoming releases. According to reports from Sacnilk, the movie is being made with a budget of roughly Rs 800 crore – making it one of the most expensive Indian productions ever planned.
Comparing salaries with Shah Rukh Khan
A lot of the current discussion around the film centers on Allu Arjun’s pay for the role. Sources like Pinkvilla report that the actor has settled on a base salary of Rs 175 crore. This upfront fee is notably higher than the flat fees typically reported for Bollywood stars. While it is of note that Shah Rukh Khan makes between Rs 150 crore and Rs 250 crore per project, a large part of that usually depends on how the film performs at the box office.
On top of his flat fee, Allu Arjun reportedly has a deal for a 15% share of the profits. If the film follows the success of his previous hits, his total income from this single project could exceed Rs 300 crore. This puts him in a position where his guaranteed earnings per film are now higher than those of almost any other actor in India as of early 2026.
The scale and vision of AA22xA6
The high budget for AA22xA6 is partly due to the heavy use of visual effects. The Times of India reported that the production is spending between Rs 350 crore and Rs 400 crore just on VFX alone. The film is rumored to be a science-fiction story involving parallel universes, which requires a lot of technical work. Allu Arjun is expected to play multiple roles, each requiring a different look and physical change.
Even though the film is still in the early stages, it has already brought in a lot of money through pre-release deals. According to Siasat, Netflix has paid a record Rs 600 crore for the digital streaming rights. With a cast that reportedly includes Deepika Padukone, Jahnvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur, the film is being positioned as a global release.