According to Pinkvilla, Amitabh Bachchan is the highest tax-paying actor in India for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), paying ₹120 crore on earnings of ₹350 crore. The veteran actor, known for his financial discipline, paid his final advance tax instalment of ₹52.5 crore on March 15, 2025.
Last year, Shah Rukh Khan was the top celebrity taxpayer, paying ₹92 crore in taxes. In FY25, Bachchan's contribution outpaced Khan's by nearly 30%, propelling him from fourth to first place.
Thalapathy Vijay, an actor and playback singer from Tamil cinema, paid ₹80 crore in taxes, while Salman Khan reportedly paid ₹75 crore.
Brand deals, films, and KBC earnings
Bachchan's earnings come from a variety of sources, including feature films, brand endorsements, and TV appearances. He remains one of the most sought-after actors in the industry, most recently appearing in Kalki 2898 AD, where his portrayal of Ashwathama received widespread acclaim. According to reports, he may have received Rs 20 crore for the role.
He also appeared in Vettaiyan with Rajinikanth, which reportedly earned him Rs 7 crore in his Tamil debut.
According to The Times of India, Bachchan earned ₹2.9 crore per episode in season nine, with a total of 52 in 2017. He earned ₹3 crore from KBC 10, which featured 60 episodes. From KBC 11 to 13, his fee remained consistent at ₹3.5 crore per episode. He earned between ₹4 to ₹5 crore per episode for KBC 14-15. According to reports, the actor earned ₹5 crore per episode of KBC 16, which ended on March 11.
Registration for KBC 17 is expected to start next month. According to media reports, he may sign on for major projects in 2025, which could propel him to the top of the earnings list this year.
With Kalki 2 expected to begin production soon and multiple endorsements under his belt, Bachchan, at 82, remains a dominant force in the entertainment industry.
