Going over all Bollywood celebrities is not an option. After all, the number of people who are just stepping into this industry is continuously increasing. Considering that it is the second-largest one, right behind Hollywood, this is not that surprising.
Well, if you want to learn more about Bollywood celebrities, continue reading this article. Why? Well, we will introduce you to the highest-earning actors and singers in 2021.
1. Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan is an actor and producer who mostly focuses on Hindi movies. He made his acting debut in 1993-drama called “Parampara,” but he became widely known the following year, after appearing in “Main Khiladi Tu Anari” and “Yeh Dillagi,” an action film and romantic drama, respectively. In the late 90s and early 2000s, he rose to prominence with movies “Hum Saath-Saath Hain,” “Dil Chahta Hai,” and “Kal Ho Naa Ho.”
Besides being one of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood, he is also one of the most successful ones, and he has many awards to prove it. Some of the most significant ones include the National Film Award for Best Actor, as well as seven Filmfare Awards.
2. Neha Kakkar
Even though Kakkar is in her early thirties, we can say that she already has a very long career, considering that she began performing when she was only four years old. One of her first performances was in the second season of the Indian Idol.
She had her breakthrough when the song “Second Hand Jawaani” when the “Cocktail” movie was released. It is safe to say that her career went on further developing with the release of tunes such as “Sunny Sunny,” and “London Thumakda.”
Two years ago, Kakkar was one of the most popular Indian female singers on YouTube with 4.2 billion views, and this year, she was the first one to win a YouTube Diamond Award.
3. Hrithik Roshan
When it comes to the popularity and success of Hrithik Roshan, not only does he have numerous awards, but he was also featured in Forbes’ India Celebrity 100 list several times. Still, let’s start at the beginning.
He began his career in early 2000, with “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai” being his first leading role. Only a few short years later, in 2003, he won two Filmfare Awards for his performance in “Koi… Mil Gaya.” The truth is that Roshan isn’t only one of the most successful Bollywood actors, but he is also one of the most handsome ones.
4. Arijit Singh
Singh is known for his soulful voice and performances, mostly in Bengali and Hindi, but he has also sung in other Indian languages. In 2005, Singh participated in Fame Gurukul, an Indian reality competition. However, he gained recognition a few years later in 2013, when songs “Chahun Main Ya Naa” and “Tum Hi Ho” were released.
His latest work includes a soundtrack from a dark comedy-drama movie “Pagglait,” which was released in March, as well as a song “O Saaiyan” that came out in January. Arijit Singh is the 66th recipient of the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Signer. Considering this accomplishment and his popularity, the fact that he is known as the “king of playback signing” comes as no surprise.
5. Salman Khan
According to several media outlets, Salman Khan is considered to be one of the most prominent actors in Bollywood. However, he is not only an actor, even though he has won two Filmfare Awards, but also a singer, painter, and awarded producer (two National Film Awards).
His career is over 30 years long. He began with supporting roles in the late 80s and continued to build his path during the 90s and 2000s. However, it wasn’t until the 2010s that he achieved the recognition he enjoys today. We can say that the previous decade was more than fruitful for him with the movies “Dabangg,” “Ready,” “Ek Tha Tiger,” “Kick,” “Sultan,” and “Tiger Zinda Hai.”
Moreover, Khan was on the Forbes’ Top-Paid 100 Celebrity Entertainers in the World twice. The first time was in 2015 when he was at 71st place with $33.5 million. The second time was in 2018 when he ranked at 82nd place with $37.7 million, which made him the top-paid Indian that year.
6. Mika Singh
Mika Singh is so much more than a playback singer. He has also released several solo albums, appeared in numerous reality shows, and acted in multiple movies. Some of his most well-known songs include “Dhanno,” “Ibn-e-Batuta,” “Mauja Hi Mauja,” “Bas Ek King,” and so on.
What makes Singh stand out from other performers is that he was one of the participants in Bollywood Showstoppers, which sold out the O2 Arena. He has also appeared in reality competition, Got to Dance. In 2016, Mika Singh held a live performance in front of 80,000 people at Birmingham.
7. Amitabh Bachchan
We cannot discuss the highest-earning and most popular celebrities in India without mentioned Amitabh Bachchan. Not only does he meet both of these requirements, but he is also one of the most beloved actors in Bollywood. A household name, as some would say.
He began his career in the 1970s, and it didn’t take him long to rise to prominence. During his five-decade-long career, Bachchan has appeared in over 200 movies. He has also won numerous awards, such as four National Film Awards for Best Actor, sixteen Filmfare Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement, and many, many more. He is not only beloved in India but also in other parts of the world, such as Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Oceania, Russia, the UK, and the USA.
Besides acting, Bachchan also hosted numerous television programs such as “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), which is an Indian version of “Who wants to be a millionaire?” and a game show “Bigg Boss.” As of 2020, it is estimated that his net worth is $400 million, which makes him one of the highest-paid celebrities in India.