Shraddha Kapoor Outearns Alia and Ananya, Claims Shakti Kapoor

New Delhi, December 25, 2025: In a revealing new interview that has sent ripples through the Bollywood trade circles, veteran actor Shakti Kapoor has come out in strong defense of his daughter Shraddha Kapoor’s career trajectory. Addressing rumors regarding her limited screen presence, Shakti Kapoor claimed that Shraddha is not only in high demand but actually commands a higher fee per project than contemporaries like Alia Bhatt and Ananya Panday.

The veteran star, known for his iconic villainous and comic roles, appeared on the podcast The Powerful Humans, where he set the record straight on why the Stree 2 star is seen in fewer films compared to her peers.

“She Picks the Best and Charges the Most”

When questioned about the perception that Shraddha receives fewer opportunities than other “star kids” like Alia Bhatt or Ananya Panday, Shakti Kapoor laughed off the notion. He clarified that her lack of volume in filmography is a conscious choice driven by her high market value and selective nature.

“She does very few films, but she takes more money. She charges more than all of these people,” Shakti Kapoor stated. “She picks only the best projects and does just one or two films a year.”

Reports following the massive success of Stree 2—which crossed $₹850$ crore globally—suggest that Shraddha’s remuneration has seen a significant hike. While industry insiders estimate Alia Bhatt’s fee to be in the range of $₹10-12$ crore and Ananya Panday’s around $₹5$ crore, Shraddha is reportedly charging upwards of $₹15$ crore per film.

“Bahut Ziddi Hai”: The Secret to Her Success?

Shakti Kapoor didn’t shy away from describing his daughter’s personality, calling her “ziddi” (stubborn) when it comes to her professional ethics. He noted that she is guided strictly by her heart and a set of personal principles that she refuses to compromise for the sake of visibility.

• Selective Script Picking: Unlike many actors who sign multiple projects to stay in the news, Shraddha prefers a “quality over quantity” approach.
• Strong Ethics: Her father emphasized that she follows her own rules, even if it means staying away from the limelight for extended periods.
• Independence: Despite being the daughter of a legendary actor, Shakti insisted her career moves are entirely her own, and she has never relied on his influence to secure work.

A Force Beyond the Big Screen

While her film count might be lower, her influence is undeniably massive. Shraddha Kapoor recently made headlines for becoming the second most-followed Indian on Instagram, surpassing global icons and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, trailing only behind cricketer Virat Kohli.

With over 94 million followers, her “girl-next-door” persona and relatable social media presence have made her a favorite for brands, allowing her to be financially lucrative even between film releases.

What’s Next for Shraddha?

After the historic success of the Stree franchise, Shraddha is rumored to be in talks for several high-budget projects, including a potential “Time Travel” thriller and further entries into the Maddock Supernatural Universe.

By maintaining her “stubborn” stance on quality and remuneration, Shraddha Kapoor seems to be rewriting the rules for female stars in Bollywood—proving that you don’t need to be everywhere to be at the top.