Ajay Devgn Sets Historic Record: ₹4.35 Cr Per Minute for RRR Cameo
By M Muzamil Shami - June 9, 2025
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Bollywood Shocker: Ajay Devgn’s ₹35 Crore RRR Cameo Reshapes Indian Cinema Pay Scale
In a historic move that stunned the Indian film industry, Ajay Devgn was paid a staggering ₹35 crore for an 8-minute cameo in SS Rajamouli’s 2022 blockbuster RRR. That breaks down to an unprecedented ₹4.35 crore per minute, officially making him the highest-paid Indian actor by per-minute rate — surpassing Shah Rukh Khan, Prabhas, and Salman Khan.
This record-breaking deal has triggered intense debate on the economics of stardom in Indian cinema.
Why This Cameo Shook Bollywood's Salary Norms
A Benchmark Like No Other
In a landscape dominated by mega-stars and ever-expanding budgets, Ajay Devgn's brief role rewrote the financial playbook. While top stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, and Prabhas command massive paychecks, none have crossed the ₹4 crore-per-minute threshold.
If SRK charged the same for Jawan (70 mins screen time), his fee would've crossed ₹300 crore — more than the film’s total budget.
How Ajay's RRR Role Changed the Game
The Setup: SS Rajamouli’s Vision Post-Baahubali
After the mammoth success of Baahubali 2, director SS Rajamouli announced RRR in 2017 with Ram Charan and Jr NTR in the lead. In 2019, Ajay Devgn joined for a powerful cameo, alongside Alia Bhatt and Shriya Saran.
Despite being on-screen for just eight minutes, Devgn’s role was integral — and the ₹35 crore fee sparked headlines nationwide.
| Actor | Film | Total Fee | Screen Time | Per Minute Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajay Devgn | RRR | ₹35 Cr | 8 min | ₹4.35 Cr |
| Shah Rukh Khan | Jawan | ₹100 Cr (est.) | 70 min | ₹1.42 Cr |
| Prabhas | Kalki 2898 AD | ₹150 Cr (rumored) | 100 min | ₹1.5 Cr |
No one has officially crossed Ajay’s per-minute benchmark.
Ajay Devgn’s Salary Surge Post-2019
Box Office Success and Fee Variations
Post-RRR, Ajay saw continued success with films like Drishyam 2, Raid 2, and Singham Again. His fees now vary:
-
Smaller Films (Raid 2, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha): ₹20–25 Cr
Big Budget Films (Singham Again): ₹40 Cr+
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OTT (Rudra on Disney+ Hotstar): ₹125 Cr — making him the highest-paid Indian OTT actor
A Look Back: Salary Evolution in Indian Cinema
In the 1990s, Chiranjeevi became the first Indian actor to charge ₹1 crore. Soon, this became the norm for superstars like Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar.
Now, in the era of global streaming and pan-India releases, Ajay Devgn has redefined what a ‘cameo’ can earn — turning minutes into millions.
FAQs:
Who is the highest-paid Indian actor per minute?
Ajay Devgn holds the record, earning ₹4.35 crore per minute for his role in RRR.
How much did Ajay Devgn charge for RRR?
He charged ₹35 crore for an 8-minute cameo, the most expensive in Indian cinema history.
What role did Ajay Devgn play in RRR?
Ajay played a powerful flashback character pivotal to the plot, despite limited screen time.
Which actor was the first to charge ₹1 crore in India?
Chiranjeevi broke that barrier in the 1990s, leading a trend that reshaped star salaries.
What do YOU think — is ₹4.35 crore per minute justified for a cameo?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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