Ajay Devgn’s ₹4.35 Crore Per Minute Cameo in RRR Sets a New Record in Indian Cinema

With just eight minutes of screen time, Ajay Devgn redefines stardom economics and becomes India’s highest-paid actor by per-minute rate.

Saumya S. 2 weeks agoLast Updated: June 9, 2025

42,386 3 minutes read

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Reviewed & Published by HH Entertaintment Desk

Mumbai, June 7: In what might be one of the most talked-about paydays in recent film history, Ajay Devgn has quietly outpaced the country’s biggest superstars — not with a 200-crore blockbuster or a mega marketing campaign, but with an eight-minute role that turned the math of stardom on its head.

His appearance in SS Rajamouli’s RRR, though brief, was paid at a staggering ₹4.35 crore per minute, making it one of the most expensive cameos ever seen in Indian cinema. The total? A cool ₹35 crore for just eight minutes of screen time.

The Cameo That Rewrote Industry Rules

Most cameos are throwaway, added for charm or nostalgia. But Devgn’s role in RRR was neither filler nor fan service. Set in a flashback, his character brought emotional weight and political punch to the film — a turning point in the storyline that was both quiet and seismic.

According to trade reports, his fee for those eight minutes wasn’t part of the standard rate card. It was a special appearance, one that the makers felt was essential to add heft and pan-India appeal. And clearly, they were willing to pay a premium for it.

What Makes ₹4.35 Crore a Minute So Significant?

To understand how massive that number is, stack it against Bollywood’s biggest earners. Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, reportedly earned under ₹100 crore for a full-fledged lead in Jawan. That’s a massive sum, no doubt — but still far below what Devgn made per minute.

For someone like Salman Khan or Prabhas to match that rate, they’d need to pull in over ₹250 crore for a single film. And that’s assuming the production can even afford it.

This isn’t just big money. It’s a new scale — one that blends star power, scarcity, and strategy. Devgn didn’t work more for more money. He worked less and made history.

Strategic Moves, Not Just Stardom

This isn’t the first time Ajay Devgn has made a sharp move in his career playbook. Back in 2021, he signed a ₹125 crore deal for the OTT thriller Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, becoming the highest-paid Indian actor on a streaming platform at the time.

These aren’t flukes. They’re part of a pattern — calculated, intentional choices where Devgn positions himself not just as a lead actor, but as a high-value asset. He doesn’t flood the market. He chooses roles that stretch across platforms — be it cinema halls, streaming apps, or pan-India multilingual releases.

Riding a Hot Streak Post-Pandemic

Since theatres reopened, Devgn has been on a roll. Drishyam 2 smashed expectations, Bholaa made noise despite being an experiment, and Singham Again is one of the most anticipated sequels on the horizon.

According to trade insiders, Devgn tailors his fees based on a film’s size and scope. For mid-budget thrillers, he reportedly charges around ₹20 crore. But for the big-budget actioners or franchise films? The number can leap to ₹40 crore and beyond.

Yet even with these big fees, it’s the RRR cameo that has everyone doing a double take. It’s not just about what he earned — it’s about how little he needed to do to earn it, and how much impact he made regardless.

The Crossover Advantage

Devgn’s appearance in a Telugu-language film also highlights a new phase in Indian cinema — one where borders between Bollywood and South Indian industries are blurring fast.

While actors like Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, and even Deepika Padukone have taken up roles in regional cinema, Devgn’s cameo in RRR stood out for more than just the paycheck. It was well-placed, dramatically essential, and cleverly timed — appearing in a film that was already riding on massive pre-release buzz.

He wasn’t just a guest star. He was a value-add. And that’s the difference.

What It Means for the Industry

If there’s one thing this cameo has proven, it’s that Ajay Devgn understands both art and arithmetic. He doesn’t just sign films — he studies them, weighs the ROI, and knows exactly when a smaller appearance can deliver outsized results.

It also speaks to a bigger trend: quality over quantity. In today’s ecosystem of cross-industry collaborations and multi-star casts, a well-executed cameo can carry as much power as a full-length role — sometimes more.

Producers now know that putting a Devgn-level star in the right moment can elevate the entire film — and fans? They’re more than okay with it. In fact, audiences today seem to prefer smartly woven cameos over forced full-length appearances.

Less Is More, When It’s This Sharp

In a time where stars often spread themselves too thin, Ajay Devgn is proving that restraint — paired with timing and intent — can be far more powerful. His ₹4.35 crore per minute cameo in RRR is less about the number itself and more about what it signals.

It’s a shift in thinking. A recalibration of what value means in Indian cinema.

And while others are busy trying to lead every film, Devgn might have just cracked a smarter model — one where showing up less can actually mean earning, and mattering, more.

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Author Profile

Saumya S.

Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald

Saumya Srivastava is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, focusing daily on captivating stories from the entertainment industry and evolving lifestyle segments. Currently pursuing her studies at BHU, Varanasi, Saumya combines her academic background with a passion for understanding and showcasing the diverse facets of modern living. Her daily articles aim to inform and inspire readers on everything from popular culture to personal well-being.