Top 10 Highest Paid Telugu Actresses in 2025: Nayanthara to Rashmika Mandanna
The Telugu cinema industry, which is famous for its captivating stories and performances, has undergone a massive change in the past couple of years, with leading actresses being paid phenomenal amounts. Leading this change is Nayanthara, the highest-paid Telugu actress, aptly called the “Lady Superstar.”
The list of other famous names includes Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Trisha Krishnan, as well as Rashmika Mandanna, Sai Pallavi, Pooja Hegde, and Anushka Shetty, who gained recognition for her strong role in movies like Baahubali. They have also become the symbols of influence and material empowerment in the entertainment field.
The rise of these actresses equally shows their talent and commitment as it shows the transitioning dynamics of pay parity in the film industry. Their success stories highlight the increasing acknowledgment of the roles women play in cinema, both in front of and behind the cameras.
1. Nayanthara
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹7 crore to ₹10 crore
With earnings of ₹7 crores to ₹10 crores a film, Nayanthara is considered one of the highest-paid actresses in Indian cinema. Her career, spanning slightly over two decades, has seen her appear in approximately 75 films in many languages.
In 2018, she was the only South Indian actress to have appeared in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list. Apart from winning many awards, including five Filmfare Awards South, she has also won a Nandi Award and seven SIIMA Awards. With these credentials, she remains a force to be reckoned with.
2. Sai Pallavi
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹3 crore to 15 crore
Sai Pallavi, earning between ₹3 crore to ₹15 crore per film, is one of the highest-paid actresses in Telugu cinema. She gained fame with her debut in Premam (2015) and made a strong impact in Telugu cinema with Fidaa (2017), winning a Filmfare Award.
Known for her natural performances, she has received six Filmfare Awards South and two SIIMA Awards. In 2020, Forbes recognized her in its 30 Under 30 list, highlighting her influence in the industry.
3. Rashmika Mandanna
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹4 crore to ₹10 crore
Rashmika Mandanna, with remuneration for films ranging from ₹4 crore to ₹10 crore, is one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema. Having made her debut with Kirik Party in 2016, she shot to fame through her role in the hit film Pushpa: The Rise in 2021.
Some of her career-defining hits were Animal in 2023 and Pushpa 2: The Rule in 2024, in the wake of which Rashmika was bestowed with four SIIMA Awards and a Filmfare Award South, and found a place in the 30 Under 30 list by Forbes India in 2024. Besides films, she also endorses a lot of brands.
4. Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹3 crore to ₹8 crore
Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) marked Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s debut in Telugu, earning her a Filmfare Award for Best Debut. She became the second actress to win Filmfare Awards for Best Actress in both Tamil and Telugu for Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Eega (2012), respectively.
Samantha has had an illustrious career spanning over ten years, during which she has secured more than 30 awards, including four Filmfare Awards South and two Nandi Awards, further establishing her legacy in the industry. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in Telugu cinema, charging between ₹3 crore and ₹8 crore per film.
5. Anushka Shetty
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore
At ₹130 crore, Anushka Shetty is one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema, commanding fees for each film in the range of ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore. She came into prominence after her nomination for a Filmfare award for her debut acting in Super (2005), and she soon became well-known for S. S. Rajamouli’s Vikramarkudu (2006).
Anushka has acted in more than 50 films and is considered to be one of the biggest commercial hits along with some very fast performances in films like Bhaagamathie, Baahubali, and Arundhati. Among other accolades, she has won two Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award. The ground-breaking honour Kalaimamani awarded to her in 2010 affirmed her status as a leading woman in the industry.
6. Pooja Hegde
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹4 crore to ₹7 crore
Pooja Hegde charges anything between ₹4 crore to ₹7 crore per movie. She made her entry into acting with the Tamil film Mugamoodi in 2012. Later on, she gained fame in Telugu cinema after doing Oka Laila Kosam in 2014.
Even though her Bollywood debut was a setback with Mohenjo Daro in 2016, she went on to make her name as a leading actress in Telugu and Hindi movies. She was previously a beauty pageant contestant and was the second runner-up at Miss Universe India in 2010. Hegde has four SIIMA awards to her credit.
7. Tamannaah Bhatia
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹4 crore to ₹5 crore
Tamannaah Bhatia is one of the highest-paid actresses in Telugu and Tamil cinema, earning ₹4 crore to ₹5 crore per film. With over 85 films to her credit, she is one of the leading South Indian stars in cinema.
She has won two Santosham Film Awards, two SIIMA Awards, and the coveted Kalaimamani Award. Known for her versatility, she still continues to dominate the industry.
8. Mrunal Thakur
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore
Mrunal Thakur, a rising star of South Indian cinema, has a net worth amounting to ₹33 crore and receives ₹3 to ₹5 crore per film. She entered the industry through television with Kumkum Bhagya (2014-2016), through which she won the ITA Award.
Her first movie in Bollywood was Love Sonia (2018), and she went on to star in quite a few popular hits, including Super 30 and Batla House (2019). After a dip in her career, she tasted huge success in Telugu with Sita Ramam (2022), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu, and Hi Nanna (2023), adding to the list of credits that hold her as one of the highest-paid actresses in South India.
9. Keerthy Suresh
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹2 crore to ₹4 crore
One of Tollywood’s highest earners, Keerthy Suresh is said to charge between Rs 2 crores and Rs 4 crores per film. As a child artist, she started her career with the movie Geethanjali in 2013, for which she won the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut-Malayalam.
She has received numerous awards, including two Filmfare Awards South, five SIIMA Awards, and a National Film Award. She is an outstanding actress. In 2021, her name was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, establishing her firm presence in the industry.
10. Rakul Preet Singh
Remuneration Per Movie: ₹2 crore to ₹3.5 crore
Rakul Preet Singh is one of the highest-paid actresses in Telugu cinema, with remuneration ranging from ₹2 crore to ₹3.5 crore per film. She made her acting debut in the 2009 Kannada film Gilli before moving on to Telugu and Tamil cinema with Keratam in 2011 and Venkatadri Express in 2013.
To name but a few, Sarrainodu (2016) and Dhruva (2016) had been successful films from her life. Following these, she entered Bollywood with Yaariyan (2014) and made her mark in the industry with De De Pyaar De (2019). The recipient of the SIIMA Award, she has multiple times appeared on the Times’ 50 Most Desirable Women list.
