No Bargains Please: Hero Wants Rs 250 crore

The South Indian film industry has this infamous reputation of paying huge amounts of money to star heroes and this tradition is continuing even to this day. The same can be understood if we look at the latest demand, put in motion by Tamil superstar, Thalapathy Vijay.

Vijay has reportedly signed a record-breaking deal worth ₹275 crore for his upcoming film Jana Nayagan (also called Thalapathy 69), scheduled for release on January 9, 2026. What makes this deal unique is that it’s a flat paycheck Vijay will not take any share in profits or backend earnings. This is said to be one of the biggest salaries ever paid to an Indian actor for a single film.

The film is directed by H. Vinoth and marks Vijay’s last movie before his full-time entry into politics. The cast includes Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, and Prakash Raj, with music by Anirudh Ravichander. Vijay is also said to have recorded a special farewell track titled “One Last Song.”

This upfront deal shows the producers’ immense confidence in Vijay’s box office power. With most of the film’s budget reportedly going to Vijay’s fee, it’s a landmark moment in Indian cinema.

For those wondering, if Vijay deserves such a big remuneration, then they can look at his recent track record as almost all of his films have clocked over ₹400 crore at the box office. He is one of the most consistent Tamil superstars in recent years and has a substantial market in theatres and also OTT platforms.