Shahrukh, Akshay among highest paid actors in world

New York, August 26

Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are among the world’s highest paid actors of 2016, raking in as many dollars as Hollywood heavyweights Robert Downey Jr and Brad Pitt, according to a Forbes list topped by wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson.

Shahrukh is tied eighth on the list of 20 with ‘Iron Man’ Downey Jr, with earnings of USD 33 million (Rs 221 crore).

Akshay is tied with Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt for the 10th position with earnings of USD 31.5 million (Rs 211 crore). ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ Salman is ranked 14th on the list with earnings of USD 28.5 million, ahead of Oscar-winning actor Leonardo Dicaprio, who is ranked 15th with earnings of USD 27 million and ‘Independence Day’ star Will Smith, who comes in on the 17th spot with USD 20.5 million.

Bachchan is on the 18th rank with earnings of USD 20 million, ahead of Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey (19) and ‘Star Wars’ legend Harrison Ford (20).

In the Forbes’ rankings, all of the highest-paid actresses are under 50, while 45 per cent of the actors are 50-plus, with Ford and Bachchan in their 70s. Johnson, also known as ‘The Rock’, elbowed out reigning Downey Jr to become the world’s highest-paid actor and scored his biggest ever annual pay cheque in the process. — PTI