Not Khans, not Bachchan – Meet the 90s superstar who charged Rs 1.25 crore first: Chiranjeevi's unmatched rise and the legacy that rewrote stardom rules
Chiranjeevi
While
Shah Rukh Khan
, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan dominated Bollywood in the 90s, there was one name that had already revolutionised Indian cinema — and it didn't come from the Hindi film industry.
Before the Khans or even Amitabh Bachchan entered the Rs 1 crore club, it was Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi who shattered the barrier and emerged as India's highest-paid actor of the decade.
In 1992, The Week featured Chiranjeevi on its cover with the headline: "Bigger than Bachchan." At the time, he was reported to have commanded an unprecedented Rs 1.25 crore for his film Aapadbandhavudu, establishing a new financial benchmark in Indian cinema.
According to the magazine, this placed him well ahead of other cinematic heavyweights like Rajinikanth, Sunny Deol, and Govinda — who were earning around Rs 50–60 lakh per film.
The rise of a southern sensation
Chiranjeevi's dominance didn't happen overnight. His consistent success in the Telugu film industry throughout the late 1980s and early 90s made him a household name across India. His magnetic screen presence, energetic dance moves, and mass appeal led to a streak of 14 consecutive hits in a single year, earning him the title: 'The New Money Machine' of Indian cinema.
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Though he briefly dabbled in Bollywood with a few Hindi films, it was his towering status in South Indian cinema that secured his immortality. As The Week noted, when Amitabh Bachchan took a break from films in the early 90s, Chiranjeevi stepped in as India's most bankable star — a groundbreaking feat for a non-Bollywood actor at the time.
A legacy that changed the game
Chiranjeevi's financial milestone redefined how stardom was measured in Indian cinema.
His move to command Rs 1 crore per film inspired other legends like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth to follow suit. Eventually, Bollywood caught up, with Amitabh Bachchan becoming the first Hindi actor to reach that salary tier after his return to films.
By the late 90s, the Bollywood trio — Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir — began commanding Rs 2–3 crore per movie. But it was Chiranjeevi who laid the foundation for this new era of superstar earnings.
Still a giant
Having acted in more than 150 films, Chiranjeevi remains a revered icon. His tremendous success has translated into a phenomenal estimated net worth of Rs 1650 crore. As an actor, producer, and philanthropist, his influence continues to shape Indian entertainment and inspire generations of stars to come.
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