In Indian cinema, few stories are as inspiring as Rishab Shetty. Selling tea powder and water bottles to survive in his youth and becoming a National Award-winning filmmaker, Shetty is redrawing the "outsider" success story. But now, with the world-renowned success of the Kantara franchise, reports are swirling that the actor-director has raised his salary to a staggering ₹80 crore per film. This colossal leap in his pay also puts him at par with South Indian stalwarts like Prabhas, Thalapathy Vijay, and Allu Arjun; suggesting that here comes his new image as an Indian giant.
An Unprecedented Market Expansion
The decision to raise his pay comes on the backdrop of the prequel to hit star Kantara, which played well in theaters at the end of last year.
- Box office Landmark: The prequel reportedly grossed over ₹800 crore worldwide, breaking earlier records.
- North Belt dominance: While other regional stars lack an entrant in North India where they find significant fan bases outside the territory, Rishab Shetty has cultivated a loyal fan base, making him a lucrative asset to Hindi and Telugu production houses.
Shetty has in fact done so for Kantara: Chapter 1 to utilize a profit-sharing model rather than an upfront fee to cover the ₹125 crore for the grand visuals of the film. But for his forthcoming external projects, which the "divine star" reportedly has been looking for, he wants to collect a fixed salary which will match his greater market value.
Upcoming Big-ticket Projects
The ₹80 crore demand is said to have been the talk of the town in Tollywood (Telugu) and Bollywood circles. There is a long 2026 & 2027 calendar set out for Rishab.
- Jai Hanuman: directed by Prashanth Varma, this film is part of the 'Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe' (PVCU). Rishab’s turn in the role of Hanuman has created a stir in India.
- Randamoozham: Reports from February 3, 2026 now give reason to suggest that Rishab might be reviving this classic project. The movie could be an adapted film from M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s novel assuming both director and lead-role duties.
- Historical Drama: Ashwin Gangaraju, a grand spectacle in the 18th century, filming is slated for mid-2026.
The "Rooted" Superstar
Yet for all of that, Rishab Shetty’s ties to his roots are as deep as they come. He has recently moved his place of permanent residence back home to his own village of Keradi, and the children in question would also be reared in the same environment that motivated Kantara to take birth.
“It’s not only the money; it’s the responsibility of bringing our stories to the world stage,” Shetty said in a recent press conference. But for the kind of box office pull he commands today, producers appear more than willing to pay the price.
