Forbes unveils list of world’s highest paid actors

Salman, Amitabh and Akshay make it to the top ten list headed by Robert Downey Jr

WASHINGTON: Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are among the world’s top ten highest-paid actors in Forbes first global list of actors from Hollywood to Hong Kong and Bollywood.

Bachchan and Salman entered the list in joint seventh place, with estimated earnings of $33.5 million in the past year. Kumar follows in ninth place with $32.5 million.

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan (18) and Ranbir Kapoor (30) with estimated earnings of $26 Million and $15 Million respectively, also made the Forbes list.

Bollywood stalwart Bachchan , who has starred in more than 150 movies in his 50 year career, continues to earn top rupee for his roles in flicks such 2014’s Bhoothnath Returns, Forbes noted.

One of India’s biggest stars, Salman, has appeared in some 80 movies since his 1989 breakout role Maine Pyar Kiya. Bollywood superstar Kumar has appeared in some 150 movies since his 1992 breakthrough in Khiladi.

Shah Rukh was described as “India’s Leonardo DiCaprio”. He earns from movies such as Happy New Year and Fan, as well as lucrative endorsements including Pan Masala.

Indian actor Ranbir is one of Bollywood’s top male actors and joins the World’s Highest-Paid Actors list for the first time.



He banks a decent pay check from movies such as Roy and Bombay Velvet, Forbes said.

Robert Downey Jr topped the list with estimated total earnings of $80 million thanks to the Iron Man franchise, while Jackie Chan came in a surprise second position with a $50 million pay packet.

Others among the top ten were Vin Diesel (3), Bradley Cooper (4), Adam Sandler (5), Tom Cruise (6), and Mark Wahlberg (10).

The 34 stars on Forbes’ list earned a combined $941 million before taxes and fees between June 2014 and June 2015. A separate list of highest-paid female actors will be published later this year. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2015.

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