Success in cinema is often measured by box office revenue, with actors' worth tied to their films' earnings. By this metric, Bollywood's Khans – Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir – are the most successful, each grossing over ₹7,000 crore globally. However, they still fall short of one actress, who has surpassed the ₹10,000-crore mark.
Deepika Padukone has become the highest-paid and most successful female star in Indian cinema over the last decade. With a career spanning 18 years, her films have earned ₹10,200 crore globally, including ₹8,000 crore from Indian films and $345 million (₹2,200 crore) from ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’. Her impressive filmography has set her apart from her male counterparts, establishing her as one of the country's biggest stars.
Deepika Padukone, once not even in the top 5 highest-grossing actors, has now topped both male and female lists. This shift happened thanks to mega hits in 2023 and 2024. She starred in five films, with ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ each grossing over ₹1000 crore, and ‘Fighter’ and ‘Singham Again’ surpassing ₹300 crore. These successes helped Deepika add over ₹4000 crore to her box office earnings in just two years.
Deepika Padukone leads India's highest-grossing stars, surpassing Priyanka Chopra (₹6000 crore) and Katrina Kaif (₹5500 crore), as well as male icons like Shah Rukh Khan (₹9000 crore), Akshay Kumar (₹8300 crore), Salman Khan (₹7500 crore), and Aamir Khan (₹7200 crore). With upcoming films like ‘Kalki 2’ and ‘Brahmastra 2’, both expected to earn hundreds of crores, she has more opportunities to further extend her box office dominance.
