Tamil star Rajinikanth not only rules the Tamil box office but is also a legendary figure in the Indian film fraternity. Having completed over 50 years in cinema, the veteran actor born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, went from making Rs 3000 from his initial project to becoming one of the highest-paid stars. Let’s take a look at how much the ‘Coolie’ star charges for a project.
Rajinikanth’s massive fee per film
Being one of the highest earners in the South Indian cinema, Rajinikanth charges between Rs 125 crore and Rs 270 crore per film, as per an Indian Express report. Speaking of his last film, the actor was last seen in the Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial ‘Coolie’, which was released in 2025. According to Sacnilk, the film globally collected over Rs 518 crore.
How much did he charge for ‘Coolie’?
As per a Deccan Chronicle report, Rajinikanth charged a staggering Rs 200 crore for his role in the film. It is also mentioned that he was initially set to charge Rs 150 crore, but his fee increased after a huge surge in advance bookings. Additionally, before doing the 2025 action thriller, Rajinikanth was seen in ‘Vettaiyan’ for which he reportedly charged over Rs 125 crore.
Rajinikanth’s early career and salary
Rajinikanth made his debut with the Tamil film ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ and later starred in ‘Moondru Mudichu’ in 1975 and 1976, respectively. According to Moneycontrol, the superstar received Rs 3500 for a film during that time.
Upcoming films in Rajinikanth’s lineup
On the work front, Rajinikanth is currently working on his upcoming film ‘Jailer 2’ directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14, 2026.Additionally, the Tamil superstar has some big projects in his lineup. He will collaborate with Kamal Haasan on the film tentatively called ‘Thalaivar173,’ directed by Cibi Chakaravarthi and backed by the other Tamil giant. Interestingly, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan will also appear together in another film tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar173 x KH 238’. The film marks their reunion on screen after 46 years. The film will be directed by Nelson Dilipkumar with Anirudh Ravichander composing the music.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from various public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.
