While celebrities may not always match the earnings of major industrialists, they still rank among the highest-paid individuals in any nation. In India, top film actors and sports stars contribute significantly to the country’s tax revenues, often paying taxes worth crores. Notably, the highest tax-paying celebrity in India shelled out a staggering ₹92 crore in taxes last year.
In September this year, Fortune India unveiled its list of India’s top tax-paying celebrities for the financial year 2023-24. Unsurprisingly, superstar Shah Rukh Khan claimed the top spot, paying ₹92 crore in taxes. This came as no shock, given his phenomenal success in 2023, marked by three blockbuster films.
However, what stood out was the significant margin by which he outpaced his peers. The second spot was secured by Tamil cinema icon Vijay, affectionately known as “Thalapathy” among his fans.
The 50-year-old Vijay paid ₹80 crore in taxes during the same period. Following him were Salman Khan (₹75 crore), Amitabh Bachchan (₹71 crore), and cricketer Virat Kohli (₹66 crore). Among female celebrities, Kareena Kapoor was the highest contributor, reportedly paying ₹20 crore in taxes, placing her just outside the top 10.
For both Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay, 2023-24 proved to be a landmark year. Shah Rukh returned to Bollywood with Pathaan in January 2023, which grossed over ₹1,000 crore globally. He followed it up with the even more successful Jawan that earned ₹1,150 crore worldwide. His year concluded with Dunki which, though not as lucrative, still earned over ₹400 crore.
Similarly, Vijay’s blockbuster release, ‘The Greatest of All Time’ raked in ₹600 crore at the box office. Reports suggest the actor received a record-breaking ₹200 crore for his role in the film, cementing his place as one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.
