Bollywood has long been the cornerstone of India’s visual media landscape, capturing the hearts of the country’s Hindi-speaking population. This dominance often leads to the assumption that Bollywood actors are the highest-paid in India. However, the success of films like Baahubali, RRR, Pushpa, and Arjun Reddy in recent years has flipped the script. South Indian cinema has garnered nationwide acclaim, attracting audiences with its compelling narratives and high-octane action. These films have long held a cult status across India, paving the way for South Indian actors to rise to prominence among the highest earners in the industry. In fact, the top 10 highest-paid Indian actors are predominantly from South Indian film industries. Using IMDb data, Forbes recently revealed a list of the top 10 highest-paid Indian actors, showcasing a blend of talent from Bollywood and South Indian cinema. While Shah Rukh Khan is clearly the king, topping the table by a wide margin, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Allu Arjun, Akshay Kumar, and Rajinikanth also feature prominently on the list.