If you love television, it’s likely you get lost in the stories acted out before you, spiriting you away from your daily life. So many components have to come together to create these magical worlds, not the least of which are the incredible actors and actresses who are capable of making us laugh or cry, almost on command. It’s why they are often compensated so well for their talents.
Take a look at the list below to check out 10 of the highest paid TV actors in India:
Shivaji Satam (CID)
An inspirational story to many, Shivaji Satam began his career as a bank teller in the Central Bank of India. However, he loved theatre so much, he was driven to enter the inter-bank stage competition. Once he had a taste of the industry, nothing could stop him, and Satam made his debut on the TV series “Rishte Naate” in 1980. It was his role as ACP Pradyuman, in the hit series “C.I.D.” that eventually secured his fame in 1998 and won him an Indian Telly Award for Best Actor. Even today, people love doing impressions of his famous dialogs, like “Kuch to gadbad hai, Daya" (Something is definitely wrong, Daya) or "Daya, darwaza tod do" (Daya, break the door).
Shivaji Satam earns 1-1.2 lakh INR per episode for C.I.D.
Sriti Jha
Jha made her debut in 2007, playing Malini “Malu” Sharma on Disney’s teen drama “Dhoom Machaao Dhoom.” She was also a participant on the show “Nachle Ve,“ with Saroj Khan in 2009. In 2013, Jha’s career took off, and she landed her most prominent role yet as Ganga, on the award-winning show, “Balika Vadhu.” Since then, she’s been featured in two of India’s most successful shows of the recent past, “Kumkum Bhagya” and “Kundali Bhagya.” She recently won Best Actress in Lead Role for “Kumkum Bhagya” at the 2019 Indian Telly Awards.
Sriti Jha reportedly earns 50,000 - 60,000 rupees per episode for Kumkum Bhagya.
Karan Patel
One of the most recognizable faces in the Indian television industry, Karan Patel was a success from the moment he made his debut on “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki.” The show ran for eight years and launched his career. He went on to appear in “Kasautii Zindagii Kay” and “Kasamh Se,” and eventually rose to stardom by portraying CEO Raman Kumar Bhalla on the popular drama series “Yeh Hai Mohabbatein,” which earned him three consecutive Zee Gold Awards for Best Actor (Popular) for 2014, 2015, and 2016. Patel quit the show in July 2019, and has since appeared in “Nach Baliye 9” and will be a contestant in the upcoming reality show “Khatron Ke Khiladi,” premiering in 2020.
Karan Patel reportedly earns 1 - 1.25 lakh rupees per episode.
Drashti Dhami
Now one of India’s most prominent television actresses, Dhami began her career as a model in the print and television industry, representing such brands as Colgate, Reliance Mobile, Chevrolet and Amul. Dhami made her debut on the show “Dill Mill Gayye,” in 2007, and stayed on there until going on to win the sixth season of “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” in 2014. Her recent shows include “A Table for Two” and “Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka,” and she guest starred on Bigg Boss 12. She won Best Actress in the Lions Gold Awards for “Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka” in 2019.
Drashti Dhami earns 65,000 - 70,000 rupees per episode.
Mohit Rana
Rana made his Bollywood debut with the flop Don Muthu Swami (2008) and then went on to star in starred in “Chehra” (2009) and “Bandini” (2009). But when anyone thinks of Rana, their first thought is usually of the striking actor with the chiseled muscles who portrayed Lord Shiva on “Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev.” That was in back in 2011, and when the series ended in 2014, Rana’s success led him to be cast in the hit series “Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat,” where he played the star role -- King Ashoka. Rana’s television role continues to grow, and he was just cast in a major role in 2019’s hit action film, “Uri:The Surgical Strike.”
Mohit Rana earns a whopping 1-1.8 lakh rupees per episode.
Surbhi Jyoti
An industry veteran, Jyoti started working in the Punjabi regional theatre and films. Her first big break came with the 2012 series “Qubool Hai!,” which won her win a spate of awards -- including Best Debut Actress in the Zee Gold Awards in 2013. Surbhi has made guest appearances in “Pavitra Rishta,” “Connected Hum Tum,” and “India’s Best Dramebaaz.” Her shows include “Kumkum Bhagya,” “Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai” and the extremely successful “Naagin 3.” “Naagin 3” topped the TRP charts in May 2019.
Surbhi Jyoti reportedly earns 70,000-75,000 Indian rupees per episode.
Sunil Grover
Grover made a name for himself for his antics on the “Kapil Sharma Show,” which he eventually left in March 2017, after a dispute with Kapil Sharma. His debut came much earlier, on Punjabi shows like “Full Tension” and “Professor Money Plant.” He was also part of “Comedy Circus.” Grover rose to national prominence because of his multiple roles on the “Kapil Sharma Show,” in which he was celebrated for his one-liners and hilariously accurate impressions. He was recently seen in Salman Khan’s “Bharat,” which was released in 2019.
Sunil Grover charges 10-12 lakh Indian rupees per show he appears on.
Hina Khan
One of India’s highest paid television actresses, Hina Khan rose to fame with her roles on “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai” and “Kasautii Zindagii Kay.” She was a runner up on “Bigg Boss” season 11 and also recently won Best Actor in a Negative Role, in both the Jury and Popular categories at the Indian Telly Awards in 2019.
HIna Khan earns a 1.5-2 lakh Indian rupees per episode or for an appearance.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee
One of the most famous contestants in the current season of “Bigg Boss,” Devoleena made her debut in 2015 on the series “Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.” She won the Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Indian Telly Awards that same year. Two of her best known serials are “Choti Sardarni” and “Kundali Bhagya.”
Devoleena Bhattacharjee earns 2-2.5 lakhs per episode.
Kapil Sharma
The undisputed king of comedy sits at the top of the highest paid actors and actresses in the country. Over the years, he has succeeded as a stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and television presenter, and he was rated the most popular Indian television personality in 2016. He’s won numerous awards for his comedy and acting -- most recently, he’s won Best Comedy Show at both the 2019 Gold Awards and the 2019 Indian Television Academy Awards for “The Kapil Sharma Show.”
Kapil Sharma earns 60-80 lakhs per episode.
