With the release of Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar makes a strong return to the genre he’s most celebrated for—patriotic cinema.
His commanding performance, coupled with a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, is expected to resonate with audiences.
The film’s promising opening suggests a solid run at the box office. As anticipation around the period drama grows, many fans are also keen to know Akshay’s remuneration, as he is reportedly earning a substantial fee for his role.
Akshay Kumar is regarded as one of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood. According to Forbes, his fee per film is reportedly in the range of ₹60 crore to ₹145 crore. As per reports, his compensation for Kesari Chapter 2 also aligns with this bracket. However, during his appearance at HTLS 2024 last year, Akshay addressed the topic of actors’ remuneration, revealing that he no longer charges an upfront fee for films. Instead, he opts for a share in the profits.
When asked whether high actor fees contribute to rising film budgets, Akshay Kumar explained, “If we sign a film today, we don’t charge anything upfront; we simply take a stake. If the film does well, we earn a share of the profits, but if it doesn’t, we don’t make anything.” He further added that this profit-sharing model is a fairer approach for producers. Based on his statement, it’s likely that Akshay followed a similar arrangement for Kesari Chapter 2, opting for profit-sharing over a fixed fee. However, the actor has not officially confirmed this.
For his role in his most recent release, Sky Force, Akshay Kumar reportedly charged around ₹70 crore. Prior to that, a Financial Express report from April last year stated that he was paid ₹80 crore for his lead role in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
As for Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, the film is a historical courtroom drama directed by Karan Singh Tyagi. Inspired by the book The Case That Shook The Empire, it chronicles the journey of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, who bravely pursued justice following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. The film, co-starring R Madhavan and Ananya Panday, hit theatres today, April 18.
Looking ahead, Akshay Kumar has a packed slate with several upcoming projects including Welcome 3, Skyforce, Jolly LLB 3, Housefull 5, Hera Pheri 3, and Bhoot Bangla.
