Highest Paid Actors in TV Industry 2025

Economic Scenario of TV Industry

The Indian television industry has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. The rise of OTT platforms and changing preferences of the audience have taken the industry to new heights. As a result, the demand for TV actors and their earnings have also increased significantly.

Sources of Income of Actors

TV actors do not earn their income only from their acting. They also earn a good amount from advertisements, brand endorsements, social media promotions, and live events. Apart from this, some actors also work as producers and directors, which further increases their income.

Highest Paid TV Actors

Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma is one of the most popular comedians on Indian television. His show “The Kapil Sharma Show” has been entertaining the audience for years. According to reports, Kapil charges a fee of ₹50 lakh per episode, which makes his annual income ₹30-35 crores.

Salman Khan

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is also famous as the host of the TV show “Bigg Boss”. He charged ₹6 crore per episode for the 17th season of the show, taking his total earnings to over ₹200 crore.

Sunil Grover

Famous for characters like “Gutthi” and “Dr. Mashoor Gulati”, Sunil Grover charges ₹10-12 lakh per episode. His comic talent has given him an important place in the TV industry.

Rupali Ganguly

Rupali Ganguly, who plays the lead role in the serial “Anupamaa”, charges ₹3 lakh per episode. Her acting and depth of character have made her very popular among the audience.

Karan Kundra

Karan Kundra, who has appeared in shows like “Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal”, charges ₹3 lakh per episode. His acting and screen presence have given him a strong position in the TV industry.

Other Lead Actors and Their Earnings

Harshad Chopra

Harshad Chopra is known for his brilliant performances in shows like “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai” and “Bepannaah”. His charismatic personality and strong acting skills have put him in the top rankings in the TV industry. His fees in 2025 is around ₹2.5 lakhs per episode. Apart from this, he also earns well through brand endorsements and social media promotions. According to an estimate, his annual earnings are around ₹10-12 crores.

Tejaswi Prakash

Tejaswi Prakash, who has been the winner of “Naagin 6” and “Bigg Boss 15”, is one of the most talked-about actresses in the TV industry today. She charges up to ₹2 lakhs per episode. Her popularity on social media also makes her an ideal face for brand endorsement deals. She has crores of followers on Instagram and her social media earnings are also in lakhs. Overall, her annual income reaches ₹8-10 crores.

Divyanka Tripathi

Divyanka Tripathi, who plays Ishita Bhalla in “Yeh Hai Mohabbatein”, is a versatile actress. She charges ₹1.5 to ₹2 lakh per episode. Along with this, she also participates as a host or guest in reality shows and award functions, which adds to her earnings. She is also associated with many social campaigns and remains a trusted face for brands.

Dilip Joshi

Jethalal of “Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma” i.e. Dilip Joshi has been winning the hearts of the audience for years. There is no decrease in his popularity even in 2025. Dilip charges ₹1.8 lakh per episode and this show gives him a permanent source of income. Apart from this, he is also associated with some brands, which further increases his income. His annual income is estimated to be around ₹10 crores.

Jennifer Winget

Jennifer Winget, who has been in the news for her strong acting in series like “Beyhadh” and “Bepannaah”, is also a fashion icon. She charges ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh per episode. Both her beauty and acting take her to a special place. In 2025, she has also turned to web series and OTT projects, which has increased her sources of income even more.

Conclusion

Earning trends in the TV industry

The TV industry is no longer limited to just serials, but it has now expanded to multi-media platforms. The growing influence of digital platforms and new ways of branding have increased the earnings of actors manifold. Now not only episode fees, but social media influence, brand deals, public events and OTT projects have also become the main sources of income.

Future prospects

As the taste of the audience is changing, the TV industry is also updating itself rapidly. This industry is becoming even more attractive due to new formats, high-quality production and access to global platforms. This is a golden era for the artists working in it and this industry can become a source of more income in the coming years.