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Top 20 Highest-Paid Asian Actors Per Movie (2026): Salary Per Film & Global Paycheck Comparison

The Asian film industry is producing some of the highest-paid movie stars in the world. From Bollywood blockbusters to Chinese box-office giants and Korean global hits, top actors now earn millions per film through upfront salaries, profit-sharing deals, streaming rights, and brand power.

This in-depth ranking reveals the top 20 highest-paid Asian actors per movie, how much they earn per project, and why their paychecks are rising rapidly in the global entertainment economy.

Quick Answer: Highest-Paid Asian Actor Per Movie

• Highest paid per film: Shah Rukh Khan – up to $100M+ (profit-sharing model)
• Highest upfront salary: Rajinikanth – $20M – $35M per movie
• China’s biggest payday: Jackie Chan – $15M – $20M per film
• Highest-paid Korean actor per project: Kim Soo-hyun – $3M+ per drama/movie

Top 20 Highest-Paid Asian Actors Per Movie

1. Shah Rukh Khan – $80M – $100M+ (profit share + rights)
2. Rajinikanth – $20M – $35M
3. Salman Khan – $15M – $25M + backend profits
4. Aamir Khan – $15M – $25M + revenue percentage
5. Akshay Kumar – $10M – $20M
6. Jackie Chan – $15M – $20M
7. Prabhas – $12M – $18M
8. Allu Arjun – $12M – $15M
9. Hrithik Roshan – $10M – $15M
10. Mahesh Babu – $10M – $14M
11. Ram Charan – $9M – $12M
12. Chiranjeevi – $8M – $12M
13. Ajith Kumar – $8M – $10M
14. Vijay – $10M – $13M
15. Donnie Yen – $8M – $10M
16. Jet Li – $6M – $10M
17. Amitabh Bachchan – $5M – $8M
18. Kim Soo-hyun – $3M – $5M per project
19. Lee Jung-jae – $3M – $4M
20. Lee Min-ho – $2M – $3M

How Asian Actors Earn So Much Per Movie

1. Profit-Sharing Deals

Instead of fixed salaries, many top actors negotiate a percentage of total revenue, including theatrical, digital, and satellite rights. This model allows earnings to reach tens of millions from a single film.

2. Pan-India & Pan-Asia Releases

Multi-language releases dramatically increase box office income and actor compensation.

3. Streaming Platform Licensing

Netflix, Amazon Prime, and regional platforms pay massive fees for exclusive rights.

4. Brand Value Pricing

An actor’s market value directly affects pre-release business, allowing them to command record salaries.

Bollywood vs South Indian Cinema vs China vs Korea

Industry	Average Top Salary Per Film	Payment Model
Bollywood	$10M – $100M+	Profit share + upfront
South Indian Cinema	$10M – $35M	High upfront salary
China / Hong Kong	$8M – $20M	Salary + global distribution
South Korea	$2M – $5M	Per episode / per project

Why Their Salaries Are Rising Every Year

• Global streaming competition
• Overseas theatrical markets
• Luxury brand partnerships
• Huge fan-driven opening day revenue
• Digital and satellite rights growth

Future Highest-Paid Asian Actors

• Ranbir Kapoor
• Yash
• Jr. NTR
• Park Seo-joon

These stars are rapidly increasing their per-film salary due to global popularity and blockbuster franchises.

Conclusion

The highest-paid Asian actors are no longer limited to regional success. With global distribution, streaming wars, and massive fan bases, their per-movie earnings now rival Hollywood’s biggest paychecks.

Profit-sharing deals and pan-market releases are the key reasons why a single film can generate life-changing wealth for Asia’s biggest superstars.

Sources

Forbes Celebrity Earnings Reports
GQ India – Actor Salary Disclosures
Bollywood Hungama – Film Pre-Release Business Data
South China Morning Post – Chinese Box Office Analytics
Korea Times – K-Drama Actor Salaries
IMDb Pro Estimates