South Indian actresses who earn more than ₹10 crores per film

South Indian cinema has seen a huge transformation in recent years. Actresses who were once paid much less than actors are now demanding and receiving high salaries. In 2025, several actresses have crossed the ₹10 crore mark, making them some of the highest-paid stars in the industry. Let’s take a look at the top 6 highest-paid South Indian actresses this year.

 Pooja Hegde – ₹7 Crores
Pooja Hegde, known for her glamorous roles, is one of the busiest actresses in Kollywood. Though her opportunities in Telugu films have reduced, she has secured major projects in Tamil cinema. She is working with stars like Vijay in Jananayakan, Suriya in Retro, and Raghava Lawrence in Kanchana 4. She reportedly earns around ₹7 crores per film.

Samantha – ₹10 Crores
Despite not having many films in Telugu, Samantha remains a favorite among audiences. She is currently focused on Bollywood projects and is also producing and acting in a Telugu movie called Bangaram. Her last project, Citadel web series, fetched her ₹10 crores. Samantha’s brand value and strong fan following continue to keep her among the top-paid actresses.

Trisha – ₹12 Crores
Trisha, who was the highest-paid actress in 2024, has now moved to the fourth position. She is currently acting in big-budget films like Ajith’s Good Bad Ugly, Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, Chiranjeevi’s Vishwambhara, and RJ Balaji’s Surya 45. Among these, she received ₹12 crores for Vishwambhara, proving her strong presence in the industry.

Rashmika Mandanna – ₹13 Crores
Rashmika Mandanna’s career skyrocketed after Pushpa 2. She later delivered another blockbuster, Chaava, which earned over ₹500 crores at the box office. With her increasing popularity, she has also stepped into Bollywood, where she is starring alongside Salman Khan in Sikandar. She is reportedly earning ₹13 crores per film, making her one of the most sought-after actresses.

Nayanthara – ₹15 Crores
Even at 40, Nayanthara remains a dominant force in the industry. She has multiple films lined up, including Test, Toxic, Dear Student, Mannan Gatti, Rakayi, and Mookuthi Amman 2. Her biggest paycheck comes from Mookuthi Amman 2, directed by Sundar C, where she is earning ₹15 crores.

Sai Pallavi – ₹20 Crores
Sai Pallavi, who once charged only ₹5 crores per film, has seen an incredible rise in her market value. After the massive success of Amaran and Thandel, she has gained immense popularity. She has now entered Bollywood, playing the role of Sita in Ramayana, for which she is being paid a record ₹20 crores. This makes her the highest-paid South Indian actress in 2025.

ALSO READ: Struggling young actor takes a bold step with a three-part historical epic