From Rajamouli to Bhansali: Inside the paychecks of India's top movie directors

Indian cinema celebrates its directors as much as its actors, with these visionary filmmakers commanding substantial fees for their blockbuster creations. Here's a glimpse into the lives and careers of the top 7 highest-paid Indian directors, who redefine storytelling and elevate cinema to new heights:

The top 7 highest-paid Indian directors who shape Bollywood and beyond

1. S.S. Rajamouli

Picture Of S.S Rajamauli/Indiatimes

• Domain: Telugu Cinema
• Impact: Rajamouli's epic sagas blend mythology with cutting-edge visuals, setting benchmarks for Indian cinema globally.
• Notable Works: "Baahubali: The Beginning," "Baahubali: The Conclusion," "RRR"
• Fee per film: Rs. 200 crore

2. Sandeep Reddy Vanga

• Domain: Indian Cinema (Cross-regional)
• Notable Works: "Arjun Reddy," "Kabir Singh," "Mahanati," "Animal"
• Fee per film: Rs. 100 crore
• Impact: Known for intense, emotionally charged dramas that resonate deeply with audiences, Vanga's films push boundaries and provoke thought.

3. Prashanth Neel

Prashant Neel/TOI

• Domain: Kannada Cinema (Emerging in Pan-Indian Projects)
• Notable Works: "KGF: Chapter 1," "KGF: Chapter 2," "Salaar"
• Fee per film: Rs. 100 crore
• Impact: Neel's gritty narratives and larger-than-life characters have redefined the Kannada film industry while gaining popularity across India.

4. Rajkumar Hirani

Picture Of Rajkumar Hirani With SRK/X

• Domain: Bollywood
• Notable Works: "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.," "Lage Raho Munnabhai," "3 Idiots," "PK," "Sanju"
• Fee per film: Rs. 80 crore
• Impact: Hirani's films blend humour with social commentary, resonating deeply with Indian audiences and achieving massive box office success.

5. Sukumar

View this post on Instagram

• Domain: Telugu Cinema
• Notable Works: "Pushpa," "Rangasthalam," "Arya," "1-Nenokkadine"
• Fee per film: Rs. 75 crore
• Impact: Known for his unique storytelling style and exploration of complex themes against rural backdrops, Sukumar continues to push the boundaries of Telugu cinema.

6. Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Pictures Of Sanjay Leela Bhasali with his heroines/X

7. Atlee

Pictures Of Atlee/X

• Domain: Tamil Cinema (Venturing into Other Languages)
• Notable Works: "Raja Rani," "Theri," "Mersal," "Bigil," "Jawan"
• Fee per film: Rs. 60 crore
• Impact: Atlee's films combine commercial elements with socially relevant themes, appealing strongly to Tamil-speaking audiences and beyond.

These directors not only earn a lot of money but also have a big impact on how Indian movies are told and how they look. Their movies are popular across different regions, which makes them very important in the development of Indian films.

Also Read: First look of Game of Thrones spinoff is out: Who is dating whom in real life from the cast?

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.