Akshay Kumar Massive Payday vs. Co-Stars’ Fees in ‘Bhooth Bangla’

April 16, 2026 — As the curtains rise for the highly anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, the spotlight isn’t just on the reunion of the iconic Akshay Kumar-Priyadarshan duo, but also on the staggering pay disparity within the ensemble cast. While the film is projected to be a massive box-office draw, new reports regarding the remuneration of its stars have ignited a conversation about the “superstar premium” in modern Bollywood.

From Akshay Kumar’s lion’s share of the budget to Tabu’s surprising pay cut, the financial breakdown of Bhooth Bangla reveals a fascinating look at the industry’s economic hierarchy in 2026.

The ‘Khiladi’ King: Akshay Kumar’s Strategic Fee

Akshay Kumar, who portrays the lead character Arjun Acharya, remains the undisputed financial heavyweight of the project. Despite recent industry shifts toward more conservative spending, Akshay has reportedly commanded a fee of ₹50 crore.

While this figure is a significant drop from the ₹70–100 crore he has charged for previous action blockbusters—representing a roughly 28.5% pay cut—it still places him in a different stratosphere compared to his colleagues. To put this in perspective:

• Akshay’s fee alone accounts for approximately 42% of the film’s total ₹120 crore budget.
• In addition to his upfront fee, Akshay is a co-producer under his banner, Cape of Good Films, reportedly holding a 70% share of the film’s backend profits.

This hybrid model of a reduced upfront fee paired with high profit-sharing is becoming a staple for A-list stars looking to mitigate the risk for production houses like Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures while still ensuring a massive payout if the film hits the jackpot.

The Massive Gap: Rajpal Yadav and the 2150% Variance

The most eye-popping statistic emerging from the set is the comparison between the leading man and the comic relief. Rajpal Yadav, whose character ‘Sunder’ is already being hailed in early reviews as the soul of the film’s comedy, reportedly received a fee of ₹1 crore.

While ₹1 crore is a respectable sum for a character actor, it highlights a stark reality: Akshay Kumar was paid 2150% more than the man responsible for a large portion of the film’s laughs. For every ₹1 Rajpal earned, Akshay took home over ₹21. This disparity, while common in star-driven cinema, underscores the massive weight the “lead actor” title still carries at the Indian box office.

Tabu and the Gender Pay Gap: A 88% Difference

Perhaps the most debated figure is that of the legendary Tabu. Despite her status as one of India’s most versatile and critically acclaimed performers, her remuneration for Bhooth Bangla is reportedly ₹2.5 crore.

When compared to Akshay’s ₹50 crore, Tabu’s fee is roughly 88% less than that of her male counterpart. Industry insiders suggest that even with her recent solo successes (like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Drishyam 2), the pay gap remains a stubborn fixture in large-scale commercial productions. Interestingly, Tabu reportedly took a slight 16% pay cut from her last outing in Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, showing a trend of established veterans adjusting their fees to ensure projects remain financially viable in a post-2025 market.

The Full Cast Remuneration Table

Actor	Reported Fee	Percentage of Total Budget
Akshay Kumar	₹50 Crore	~42%
Wamiqa Gabbi	₹3 Crore	~2.5%
Tabu	₹2.5 Crore	~2.1%
Paresh Rawal	₹2 Crore	~1.7%
Rajpal Yadav	₹1 Crore	~0.8%
Jisshu Sengupta	₹1 Crore	~0.8%

The Rise of Wamiqa Gabbi

One of the standout surprises in the salary list is Wamiqa Gabbi. The rising star, who has been making waves on OTT platforms, reportedly earned ₹3 crore for her role as the female lead. This puts her slightly ahead of veterans like Tabu and Paresh Rawal, marking a shift where “freshness” and current audience pull are being rewarded with higher paychecks. Gabbi’s inclusion is seen as a strategic move to bridge the gap between traditional cinema-goers and the younger, digital-first audience.

The Priyadarshan Factor: Why the High Stakes?

Director Priyadarshan has built Bhooth Bangla on a budget of ₹120 crore, a substantial amount for a horror-comedy. The reason producers are willing to pay Akshay Kumar such a high percentage of the budget boils down to historical data. The duo’s last collaboration in this genre, Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), remains a cult classic and a gold standard for the industry.

By securing the “original” duo, the makers have already seen a return on investment through advance bookings. As of April 16, the film has minted nearly ₹13.84 crore in advance sales and paid previews, suggesting that despite the lopsided salary distribution, the “Brand Akshay” remains the primary engine driving ticket sales.

Final Thoughts: A Mirror to the Industry

The fee structure of Bhooth Bangla is a microcosm of Bollywood’s current state. It reflects an industry that is:

1. Star-Reliant: Where the lead actor’s salary can equal the production cost of five smaller films.
2. Risk-Averse: Where veterans take pay cuts to ensure big-budget projects don’t “collapse” under their own weight.
3. Profit-Driven: Where actors are becoming business partners (producers) rather than just employees.

As Bhooth Bangla hits theaters globally on April 17, the real question won’t be how much the stars were paid, but whether the chemistry of Akshay, Rajpal, and Paresh can deliver the ₹200-crore hit the industry desperately needs. If the film succeeds, Akshay’s 70% profit share might just make his ₹50 crore fee look like “pocket change.”