From Karan Johar to Farhan Akhtar: 5 of the richest Bollywood filmmakers

Given how much mental and physical effort goes into making films, directors always charge a large sum for their work

If it weren't for Bollywood filmmakers and their bright ideas, Indian cinema wouldn’t have come this far. But only a handful of Indian directors, including Karan Johar, SS Rajamouli and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, among others, have curated films that appeal to people from all walks of life.

Given how much mental and physical effort goes into making films like that, these directors always charge a large sum for their work, so it's no surprise that many have attained massive wealth with their box office successes!

So, without further ado, here's a lowdown of the richest filmmakers in Bollywood, compiled from GQ India.

1. Karan Johar

The best way to catch a glimpse of Karan Johar's obscenely lavish lifestyle is through his Instagram account. Karan is more than just a director; he also runs a multibillion-dollar production company. He earns around Rs 10 million per year and has assets worth Rs 200 million, according to DailyHunt. The much-acclaimed director lives on Mumbai's Carter Road in a Rs 4 million duplex on the 12^th floor of the high-rise known as ‘The Residency’, which has an area of 8,000 square feet, reported Architectural Digest.

2. SS Rajamouli

It would be impossible to compile a list of wealthy directors without mentioning SS Rajamouli. The popular filmmaker is a cinema mogul with multiple box office hits under his belt, such as his latest project, RRR. According to Hindustan Times, the director requested a whooping Rs 250 million for his role in making the much-acclaimed Baahubali films. Also, as per News18, he has a 30% stake in the box office earnings of RRR as well. His net worth estimated by Finapp is Rs 15 million.

3. Sanjay Leela Bhansali

If there's one tear-jerking story that's etched itself in our minds to date, it's Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, which was released in 2022. Sanjay is widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in Indian history. The director has produced several box office hits, including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani. According to TOI and LiveMint, his film Padmaavat made over Rs 5000 million at the box office and his most recent film, Gangubai Kathiawadi accumulated over Rs 13.9 million!

4. Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar is a jack of all trades: he can act, write intriguing scripts, direct movies, and even produce them! Thus, due to his wide range of skills, Farhan has amassed a substantial fortune over the past year. Asianet News reports that the Dil Chahta Hai creator has property holdings worth Rs 1.48 billion and he also charges between Rs 30 to 40 million per project!

5. Zoya Akhtar

Yes, both siblings are on this list! Zoya Akhtar is often lauded for her daring choices in filmmaking. She has also a knack for building engaging narratives such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy. As per Celebrity Net Worth, Zoya’s current net worth is Rs 10 million and that she will continue to make more capital with her future projects.

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