This TV star built a ₹300cr empire, beating Bollywood actors
What's the story
The Indian television industry is home to many successful stars, but when it comes to wealth, one name stands above the rest—and it's not who you might expect!
In a shocking twist, comedian-turned-actor Kapil Sharma has been named the richest TV star in India, beating popular actors Rupali Ganguly, Tejasswi Prakash, and Karan Kundrra.
Reportedly, Sharma earns a whopping ₹5 crore per episode for his show, The Great Indian Kapil Show.
His net worth stands at ₹300 crore, MoneyControl reports.
Wealth and taxes
Sharma's luxurious lifestyle and tax contributions
Sharma lives in a swanky ₹15 crore apartment in Andheri, Mumbai, with his mother, wife Ginni Chatrath, and their two kids.
Apart from his massive earnings, Sharma has also made headlines for his significant tax contributions. He was featured among the top television celebrities on the list of highest celebrity taxpayers for 2024.
As per Fortune India, the comedian-turned-actor paid a staggering ₹26 crore in taxes during the financial year 2024.
Co-star earnings
Sunil Grover is also earning big on Sharma's show
Sharma's co-star, actor Sunil Grover, is also reportedly earning a fortune from The Great Indian Kapil Show. According to reports, Grover is making ₹25 lakh per episode on the show.
This substantial paycheck not only highlights Grover's immense popularity but also adds to the overall financial success of the show and its star-studded cast.
With such high earnings, The Great Indian Kapil Show continues to solidify its position as one of the most lucrative television programs in India.
Career milestones
Sharma's journey in the Indian television industry
Sharma's television journey started with The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3 in 2007, which he won.
His career skyrocketed after hosting the reality show Comedy Nights with Kapil in 2013. The show's immense success established Sharma as a household name, leading to even bigger opportunities.
In 2016, he launched The Kapil Sharma Show which ran till 2024.
These hit shows contributed to Sharma's rise as one of the biggest names in the industry.
Controversies
Sharma's controversies and public disputes
Despite his success, Sharma has often been mired in controversies. His fallout with other public figures split opinions on social media.
In 2016, he tweeted about corruption, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official handle.
He also had a public spat with Grover, which became one of the most widely discussed controversies in Indian television. The two had a highly publicized fallout, which led to Grover's exit from The Kapil Sharma Show.
However, the duo mended issues later.