With Rs 1.25 Crore Remuneration In 90s, This Actor Was Called 'Bigger Than Bachchan'

Amitabh Bachchan is a legendary figure in Bollywood, renowned for his numerous blockbuster films. While many actors have debuted before, alongside, or after him, none have achieved his level of fame. Nevertheless, some actors who initially sought success in Bollywood but didn’t achieve it have found stardom in South Indian cinema. Today, we’ll discuss a 90s actor who appeared in only three Hindi films but managed to command fees comparable to Bachchan’s. Though he now prefers working in Telugu films, he is now one of the highest-paid actors in the country.

We are talking about Megastar Chiranjeevi, who is, without a doubt, one of the biggest figures in Telugu cinema. After appearing in three Hindi films, Chiranjeevi stepped away from Bollywood but went on to become a massive superstar in the Telugu film industry, and rivaled Amitabh Bachchan in terms of popularity. An old cover of The Week magazine, dating back to September 13, 1992, recently resurfaced online. The magazine reported that Chiranjeevi earned a staggering Rs 1.25 crore for a film, and even labelled him as ‘Bigger than Bachchan’ on its cover.

Chiranjeevi’s remarkable career started in the late 1970s, but it was in the 1980s that he cemented his reputation as a major force in Indian cinema. With numerous hit films, he emerged as one of the highest-paid actors of the 1990s. Chiranjeevi worked in more than 150 films as an actor, dancer and producer. He has won 10 Filmfare Awards and four Nandi Awards for his outstanding performances. He was also dubbed “The New Money Machine.” Media reports from the 90s highlight how he made waves in Telugu cinema by delivering 14 consecutive hit films within a single year. Currently, Chiranjeevi’s estimated net worth stands at Rs 1,650 crore.

Chiranjeevi’s last film Bholaa Shankar failed but he is up for a riveting comeback with the fantasy film Vishwambhara: Part 1 to be released next year.