Mumbai: Filmmakers and directors are the creative leads of film production. It is their vision that we see on the big silver screens. The directors are engaged from the pre-production to the final edit which contributes to their substantial salaries.
When it comes to discussing salaries in the film industry, much speculation surrounds actors and actresses. But What about directors? Directors like Karan Johar and Rohit Shetty charge crores of rupees for a movie. Know who are the “top ten richest directors in Bollywood”.
Check Out the Top 10 Richest Bollywood Directors who are ruling the heart of Audiences.
Bollywood has also been an integral and vibrant part of the Indian film industry, consistently establishing itself as the world’s most well-known movie industry. Despite evolving times, Bollywood persists in producing films, strategically adapting to remain relevant to its Indian audience. The directors of Bollywood have some of the highest earners in the Indian Film Industry. If you have a look at the list of richest directors in Bollywood you will notice that many of them earn more than actors and actresses.
The main reason why directors are paid so highly by producers is that their jobs are so hard as they are in charge of the movie from beginning to end and must ensure top-notch cinematography, editing, and special effects.
Additionally, some directors have their fan base as well. Audiences consistently queue up in theatres to watch movies by the top Bollywood Directors such as Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rohit Shetty, and others.
10 Highest Paid Bollywood Directors 2024
Here is the List of Top 10 Richest Bollywood Directors with their names and their Net Worth’s.
| Name of the Director | Net Worth |
| Karan Johar | Rs. 1700 Crores |
| Rajkumar Hirani | Rs. 1300 Crores |
| Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Rs. 940 Crores |
| Anurag Kashyap | Rs. 850 Crores |
| Meghna Gulzar | Rs. 830 Crores |
| Kabir Khan | Rs. 400 Crores |
| Anurag Basu | Rs. 330 Crores |
| Rohit Shetty | Rs. 290 Crores |
| S.S. Rajamouli | Rs. 110 Crores |
| Zoya Akhtar | Rs. 100 Crores |
1. Karan Johar (1700 Crores)
Karan Johar is one of the best and most excellent directors of Bollywood because he can make people laugh, cry, and think. One of his attributes is that he always puts in his efforts and tries to make movies that are different from others.
He has been a director of movies such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and many more. His movies have grossed a global box office revenue exceeding $25 Million, making him one of the most successful directors in the Bollywood era. In 2013, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to Indian cinema.
- Top Movies – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, My Name is Khan, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
- Age – 51 Years
- Net Worth – Rs. 1700 Crores
2. Rajkumar Hirani (1300 Crores)
Rajkumar Hirani, an Indian filmmaker and screenwriter, who has been a career spanning over 30 years in the film industry. He is mostly recognized for directing the highly successful films “3 Idiots” and “PK”. His movies received praise from both audiences and critics and are widely considered to be some of the best films in Bollywood history.
He won the Filmfare Award for the best film and director for the movie ‘PK’ in the year 2014. In the previous year, he made a movie ‘Dunki‘ featuring Shahrukh Khan which was released on 21st Dec 2023.
- Top Movies – Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK, Sanju
- Age – 60 Years
- Net Worth – Rs. 1300 Crores
3. Sanjay Leela Bhansali (940 Crores)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is renowned as a trailblazer in the Bollywood film industry. His films consistently received acclaim for their distinctive and innovative style which has set him apart from other directors. Besides this, his movies are known for their lavish sets and beautiful costumes.
If you are a fan of Bollywood, then you might know that Sanjay’s movies have received critical acclaim and have also been nominated for the Oscars. He is truly an amazing director. A movie directed by Sanjay Bhansali “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” won 4 National Awards and 9 Filmfare Awards.
His latest released movie “Gangubai Kathiawadi” is appreciated by audiences. In 2015, he received the Padma Shri award for his great contribution to Indian cinema.
- Top Movies – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Black, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Age – 60 Years
- Net Worth – Rs. 940 Crores
4. Anurag Kashyap (850 Crores)
Anurag Kashyap is a director who has won several awards for his films. He initiated his career in the early 90s and quickly rose to fame with his first film “Black Friday” which was an instant hit. He has a fame for making films with dark themes and complicated storylines.
He is also renowned for directing films with a lot of violence, sexual content, and a lot of swearing. Anurag is the director of highly praised movies like Black Friday, Gangs of Wasseypur, Bombay Velvet, and Dev.D. He is a winner of the prestigious Yash Bharti Award.
- Top Movies – Gulaal, Return of Hanuman, No Smoking, Bombay Velvet, Raman Raghav 2.0
- Age – 51 Years
- Net Worth – Rs. 850 Crores
5. Meghna Gulzar (830 Crores)
Meghna Gulzar is a unique director, screenwriter, and producer who has been recognized as one of the most promising and talented directors in the industry. She is the daughter of popular writer ‘Gulzaar’ and actress Rekha. She is best known for her patriotic movie “Raazi”.
She has been a director of the critically acclaimed movie “Talvar”. Despite being a box-office failure, she earned a Film Fare nomination for her performance in this movie. In the last year in December 2023, she made a movie “Sam Bahadur” with Vicky Kaushal which was released on 1 December 2023.
- Top Movies – Dus Kahaniyaan, Talvar, Raazi, Chhapaak
- Age – 49
- Net Worth – 830 Crores
6. Kabir Khan (400 Crores)
Kabir Khan is a successful Bollywood director who has made several films in the past like “Ek Tha Tiger, New York, and Bjarangi Bhaijan”. His films are known for their distinct storylines and loveable characters. Kabir Khan possesses a unique directing style which includes his own distinct camera and editing techniques.
Kabir Khan has earned a lot of money for him by working in several TV shows (including The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye). Kabir Khan is a very successful director with several awards under his belt.
- Top Movies – Kabul Express, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 83
- Age – 55 years
- Net Worth – Rs. 400 Crores
7. Anurag Basu (330 Crores)
Anurag Basu is one of the most famous Bollywood directors who is known for his films like “Murder” and “Burfi”. He stands at seventh position on the list of Richest Film Directors in India. He produces movies that are not only entertaining but are also highly relatable.
In his films, he depicts characters who are struggling to discover their place in society and struggle to find love. His movies convey a significant message, a rarity in the realm of Bollywood cinema.
He started his career with intense films like Life in a Metro, Murder, Gangster, and Kites. Nowadays he starts making comedy films too. His latest release was the Netflix black comedy film “Ludo”. He has also been involved in Television shows since 1996.
- Top Movies – Gangster, Murder, Kites, Jagga Jasoos, Ludo.
- Age – 53 years
- Net Worth – Rs. 330 Crores
8. Rohit Shetty (290 Crores)
Rohit Shetty’s movies blend with action and comedy seamlessly, and it’s not just the action that contributes to the excellence of his movies. Rohit Shetty is also known for his distinctive casting choices. If you’re a fan of Masala Bollywood films, then you’ll surely want to check out some of his movies.
Shetty has successfully produced some of Bollywood’s most significant blockbusters such as Chennai Express and Dilwale. Lots of people give him credit for the improvement of the image of police officers in India through films such as Singham, Singham Returns, and Simbaa.
- Top Movies – Golmaal, Singham, Bol Bachchan, Simmba, Sooryavanshi, Indian Police Force (Web Series)
- Age – 49 years
- Net Worth – Rs. 290 Crores
9. S.S. Rajamouli (110 Crores)
After the release of his masterpiece Bahubali: The Beginning, Indian cinema was finally given a real superhero movie. The film achieved significant success at the box office, boasting a budget of over Rs 180 Crores ($ 26 million), and became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
Rajamouli is renowned for his films ‘breathtaking’ visuals and epic stories that have won him the title of one of India’s most successful directors. You should note that three of his films, Baahubali: The Beginning in 2015, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in 2017, and RRR in 2022, rank among the top five highest-grossing films in India to date.
In 2016, the Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of Art.
- Top Movies – Magadheera, Chatrapathi, Eega, Baahubali, RRR
- Age – 49 years
- Net Worth – Rs. 110 Crores
10. Zoya Akhtar (100 Crores)
Zoya Akhtar is one of those amazing Bollywood directors who has made a huge impact on the Bollywood industry. She belongs to the first generation of Indian filmmakers to become internationally famous.
If you want to check her work and performance, you should see Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Talaash, and Gully Boy. She is the daughter of popular lyricist Javed Akhtar. She often worked as a lyricist in the Hollywood movie “Bride and Prejudice”.
- Top Movies – Lust Stories, Ghost Stories, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, Gully Boy.
- Age – 50 years
- Net Worth – Rs. 100 Crores
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is the richest director in Bollywood?
Karan Johar is the richest director in Bollywood with a net worth of over Rs. 1700 Crore.
Which is the highest-grossing Bollywood movie?
Dangal with a worldwide earning of Rs. 2,200 crores or US$338 million.
Who is the richest actor in Bollywood?
Shahrukh Khan is the Bollywood richest actor with a net worth of over Rs. 1700 Crore. With this he earned fame he became the 4th richest actor in the world by beating Tom Cruise and Jackie Chan.
Who is the most globally renowned Indian director of all time?
Satyajit Ray.
Who is the No. 1 director in India?
Satyajit Ray.
Who is the most successful Bollywood director?
The most successful Bollywood directors of all time
- Yash Chopra. Yash Chopra is one of the most successful directors in the history of Bollywood. …
- Karan Johar. Karan Johar is one of the most successful directors in Bollywood. …
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali. …
- Rajkumar Hirani. …
- Aditya Chopra.
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