Highest Paid TV Actors : The Indian television industry has exploded into a financial juggernaut, with top actors now commanding fees rivaling Bollywood A-listers. As TRPs soar and OTT platforms intensify competition, stars are reaping unprecedented paychecks. We analyzed industry reports, production house data, and insider sources to reveal the 10 highest-paid TV actors of 2025, their jaw-dropping earnings, and the shows making them rich.
Why TV Salaries Are Shattering Records in 2025
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Digital disruption: OTT giants like Disney+ Hotstar and SonyLIV bid aggressively for top talent.
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Brand endorsements: TV stars now earn 40–60% of their income from ads (e.g., soap, jewelry, apps).
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Long-form content: Daily soaps with 500+ episodes guarantee steady income versus films’ project-based pay.
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Global syndication: Hits like Anupamaa air in 50+ countries, boosting actors’ bargaining power.
The Top 10 Highest-Paid TV Actors in India (2025)
1. Salman Khan: ₹60 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: Bigg Boss 19 (Colors TV)
The undisputed king of Indian TV, Salman’s ₹60 crore/month fee for hosting Bigg Boss makes him 2025’s highest earner. His massive fan base ensures record TRPs and ₹1,200+ crore in ad revenue per season. Producers justify his fee by calling him “television’s one-man economy.”
“Salman’s presence guarantees international syndication deals. He’s worth every rupee.” — Network Executive, Colors TV.
2. Amitabh Bachchan: ₹35 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 (Sony TV)
Big B earns ₹35 crore/month hosting KBC, drawing corporate sponsors like LIC and Tata Group. His iconic status and the show’s 20-year legacy command premium ad rates—₹12–15 lakh per 10-second slot.
3. Kapil Sharma: ₹20 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: The Kapil Sharma Show (Sony TV)
Kapil’s comedy empire generates ₹150+ crore/year from ads and satellite rights. His fee includes creative control, with 70% of guests appearing gratis to promote films. Netflix is reportedly bidding ₹500 crore for a stand-up special.
4. Rupali Ganguly: ₹12 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: Anupamaa (Star Plus)
Rupali’s ₹12 crore/month makes her India’s highest-paid TV actress. Anupamaa dominates TRP charts for 180+ weeks, earning ₹1.8 crore/day in ad revenue. Her 8-brand endorsement portfolio (including Borosil and Joy Skin Care) adds ₹18 crore annually.
5. Karan Kundrra: ₹7 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Shows: Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal (Colors TV)
The Bigg Boss sensation leverages 22M Instagram followers into brand deals (Boat, MyGlamm). Kundrra’s youth appeal nets ₹4 crore/month from endorsements alone—more than his acting fee.
6. Tejasswi Prakash: ₹5 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: Rishton Ka Manjha (Colors TV)
2025’s highest-paid reality star (after Bigg Boss 16 win) merges acting with entrepreneurship. Her fitness app, TEFIT, earns ₹50 lakh/month. Brands like Mamaearth pay ₹1.5 crore/post for her Instagram reels.
7. Disha Parmar: ₹3.5 Crore/Month – Highest Paid TV Actors
Show: Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 3 (Sony TV)
Disha’s ₹3.5 crore/month fee doubled after her 2024 marriage to Rahul Vaidya boosted her celebrity status. She endorses 6 brands, including Sugar Cosmetics (₹4 crore/year).
8. Hina Khan: ₹3 Crore/Month
Shows: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai reruns + web series
Hina transitioned from TV to OTT (Country of Blind, Netflix) but earns big from rerun royalties. Her fashion label, Vida, contributes ₹2 crore/month.
9. Shaheer Sheikh: ₹2.5 Crore/Month
Show: Woh Toh Hai Albelaa (Star Plus)
Shaheer’s Southeast Asian fanbase (from Kuch Rang Pyar Ke) nets him ₹1 crore/month from Indonesian endorsements. His production house co-funds his shows, boosting profit share.
10. Sudhanshu Pandey: ₹2 Crore/Month
Show: Anupamaa (Star Plus)
As Vanraj Shah, Sudhanshu earns ₹2 crore/month—TV’s highest-paid antagonist. His music career (band A Band of Boys) resurged after Anupamaa’s viral dance sequences.
Behind the Paychecks: How TV Economics Work – Highest Paid TV Actors
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TRP-driven bonuses: Actors earn ₹10–25 lakh per 0.5+ TRP jump (e.g., Rupali Ganguly’s ₹3 crore Diwali bonus).
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Profit-sharing: Top stars like Kapil Sharma own 5–10% of show IP rights.
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Endorsement leverage: A 1.0+ TRP show = 2–3 new brand deals/month (per GroupM India reports).
The OTT Factor – Highest Paid TV Actors
Disney+ Hotstar’s ₹300 crore deal for Bigg Boss 19 digital rights and Amazon Prime’s ₹150 crore Anupamaa syndication prove TV’s digital golden age. Stars now negotiate “digital bonuses” for shows streamed online.
Future Outlook
With Reliance-Disney merging, expect bidding wars for top talent. Industry analysts predict:
*”By 2027, Salman Khan could cross ₹100 crore/month as TV and OTT revenue pools converge.”* — ET Media Study
Conclusion
The 2025 TV earnings boom reflects India’s content consumption revolution. Salman Khan, Rupali Ganguly, and Kapil Sharma lead a financial renaissance where TV stars are no longer “less than” film actors—they’re savvy entrepreneurs commanding fees proportionate to their revenue impact. With OTT platforms turbocharging demand, these paychecks are set to soar higher, rewriting entertainment economics.
3 Outbound Links for SEO:
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KPMG India Media Report 2025 – TV industry growth analysis.
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GroupM Entertainment Study – Ad-spend trends for top shows.
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Disney+ Hotstar TAM Data – Streaming metrics for TV syndication.
