Deepika’s Paycheck For Raaka: High or Low?

Star siren Deepika Padukone has been in the news lately, but not entirely for the right reasons. Controversies, exit rumours, and talk about “excessive demands” have been doing the rounds, with a few big-budget projects like Spirit, Kalki 2 reportedly shunting her out, and others following suit.

Amidst all this noise, one thing is clear. She’s very much part of Allu Arjun’s Raaka and charges a bomb for the same. Directed by Atlee, the film has already generated decent buzz with its title and first look. Backed by Sun Pictures, this is being mounted as a massive pan-India project, targeting a Summer 2027 release.

Coming to the talking point, Deepika is said to be charging ₹25 crores for the film, which is her highest paycheck so far. On the surface, that looks huge. Especially when actresses like Mrunal Thakur, Sreeleela, and Pooja Hegde usually operate in the ₹3–4 crore range. That’s a massive gap. But there’s a flip side too.

When you place that ₹25 crore next to the film’s bigger economics, it tells a different story. Allu Arjun is reportedly charging close to ₹250 crores. Atlee is said to be taking home around ₹100 crores. Suddenly, Deepika’s fee doesn’t look “too high” anymore. In fact, comparatively, it sits on the lower side within this setup. That’s the interesting contrast here.

A number that feels big when seen alone, looks relatively small when placed next to the male star and director's remuneration. Also, Raaka features multiple female leads, including Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, and Janhvi Kapoor in key roles, as per the insider sources. End of the day, Raaka is playing on a huge canvas. Big star. Big director. Big budget.