Kamal Haasan Emerges as the Highest-Paid Actor in Kalki 2898 AD

The 2024 sci-fi spectacle Kalki 2898 AD quickly became one of the biggest blockbusters in Telugu cinema, celebrated for its grand scale, ambitious storytelling, and an impressive cast featuring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Kamal Haasan. Amidst the film's visual grandeur, one intriguing detail has caught the attention of fans: who earned the most?

Filmmaker Yugi Sethu has claimed that Kamal Haasan received the highest salary for his role in the film directed by Nag Ashwin. In a conversation with Indiaglitz, he revealed that Kamal was paid a staggering ₹150 crore for his participation. "Kamal sir’s stature is such. He is getting paid ₹150 crore for 20 days of the call sheet for Kalki 2898 AD. I told him on his birthday that he is the highest-paid actor in India and is getting $1 million per day," Yugi stated.

Interestingly, Yugi's anecdote took a humorous turn when Kamal introduced him to producer C. Aswani Dutt. Upon thanking the producer for making his friend the highest-paid actor, Dutt corrected him, stating that Kamal only shot for 10 days, leading Yugi to quip, "Sorry, I correct myself then, it’s $2 million per day."

A brief role with a powerful impact

Despite limited screen time, Kamal Haasan’s character is pivotal in the larger narrative. He portrays Supreme Yaskin, a god-king ruling a dystopian world known as the Complex. Although his presence in the first installment is brief, the film's conclusion strongly suggests a more prominent role in the upcoming sequel.

Yugi's remarks hold particular significance due to his longstanding partnership with Kamal, having collaborated on projects like Panchatanthiram (2002) and Anbe Sivam (2003), fostering a friendship that spans over two decades.

Kamal Haasan’s comeback reshaped his market value

The revelation of Kamal Haasan’s impressive remuneration comes at a time when his commercial appeal has seen a significant resurgence. Following a period of underwhelming box office performance, his career was revitalized by the success of Vikram in 2022, which reportedly grossed around ₹400 crore worldwide against a budget of approximately ₹150 crore.

Currently, work on the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD is in progress, with Amitabh Bachchan recently sharing photos from the set featuring Kamal Haasan, marking their collaboration after a long hiatus.