Bollywood VS South: South has overtaken Bollywood even in terms of directors' earnings, these directors are on top

May 17,2022


 
 
 
You must have known the names of many famous directors of Bollywood. In Hindi cinema, there are many such directors including Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Rajkumar Hirani, who take some part of the film's earnings as fees and earn crores. But do you know that the first name in the list of top five directors of India is the director of South? Yes, at present, South director SS Rajamouli is number one among the highest-grossing directors.

top 5 directors
1. SS Rajamouli
2. Rohit Shetty
3. AR Murugadoss
4. Rajkumar Hirani
5. Karan Johar

Not only this, but other directors of South films also give tough competition to Bollywood's A-grade actors in terms of earnings. Let us tell you about the 5 richest directors of South Industry.

SS Rajamouli

SS Rajamouli, who directed record-breaking films like Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), and RRR (2022), pays no less than any A-listers in Bollywood. According to media reports, directors keep some percentage of films earning 1000 crores or 500 crores with themselves. According to the information received, SS Rajamouli had taken 30 percent of the RRR as a fee. On the other hand, if we talk about the total assets, the director is the owner of assets worth about Rs 110 crore.

Mani Ratnam

Gopal Ratnam Subramaniam aka Mani Ratnam is synonymous with the Tamil film industry. It would not be wrong to say that his films are a guide for budding filmmakers in many aspects of the arts. The fact that the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, speaks volumes about his contribution to the film sector. It is worth noting that Mani Ratnam will soon be coming with a mega-budget film like Ek Ponniyin Selvan. According to media reports, his net worth is around 130 crores.

S Shankar

S Shankar is an Indian film Director and Producer, who has worked predominantly in the Tamil film industry. He started his career as an assistant director to SA Chandrashekhar and is now the highest-paid director in the country. In the year 2019, the earnings of S Shankar, who was ranked 55th in Forbes magazine, were more than 31 crores three years ago. On the other hand, if we talk about the total assets, then S Shankar has total assets of 150 crores.

AR Murugadoss

Murugadoss Arunasalam, commonly known by his stage name AR Murugadoss, is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. AR Murugadoss who primarily works in the Tamil film industry is known for his remakes in Hindi cinema. According to media reports, the net worth of AR Murugadoss is close to 72 crores, while his one-month earnings are more than 12 crores.

K Raghavendra

A veteran of Telugu cinema from South India, K Raghavendra Rao has a career spanning over 4 decades, during which he has directed 110 films so far and produced over 25 films in various Indian languages. K Raghavendra's net worth is Rs 0.5 crore.

Top Stories

Anupam Kher Scolds David Dhawan Over Retirement Rumors:

Anupam Kher Scolds David Dhawan Over Retirement Rumors: "Who Are You to Decide..."

 Jun 04,2026

  Veteran Bollywood filmmaker David Dhawan has returned to the director’s chair after a gap of six years. However, what has surprised fans even more is his announcement that his upcoming film Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani will reportedly be his final directorial venture before retirement.But

'Bad breath from her mouth...' When Bobby Deol refused to film an intimate scene with Manisha Koirala, the reason will leave you stunned.

'Bad breath from her mouth...' When Bobby Deol refused to film an intimate scene with Manisha Koirala, the reason will leave you stunned.

 Jun 03,2026

  Bollywood actor Bobby Deol recently opened up about several funny behind-the-scenes moments from the early phase of his film career, including playful pranks on co-stars Twinkle Khanna, Rani Mukerji, and Manisha Koirala.The actor made these revelations during his appearance on the popular

Kangana Ranaut Recalls 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Night: ‘We Were Dancing and Suddenly…’

Kangana Ranaut Recalls 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Night: ‘We Were Dancing and Suddenly…’

 Jun 03,2026

  Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut recently opened up about her personal memories from the night of the devastating 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks while promoting her upcoming film Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.During the trailer launch event of the film, Kangana revealed that she was attending a party

‘She Was Faking It’: Madhuri Dixit Makes Shocking Revelation About Karisma Kapoor’s Dance Performance

‘She Was Faking It’: Madhuri Dixit Makes Shocking Revelation About Karisma Kapoor’s Dance Performance

 Jun 02,2026

    Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor remain one of Bollywood’s most iconic on-screen duos, especially for their unforgettable performances in the cult classic Dil To Pagal Hai.The film, which also starred Shah Rukh Khan, is still celebrated for its music, romance, and legendary d

Bobby Deol Reveals Who Can Play Dharmendra in His Biopic, Says ‘No One Can Replace Him’

Bobby Deol Reveals Who Can Play Dharmendra in His Biopic, Says ‘No One Can Replace Him’

 Jun 02,2026

  Bobby Deol is currently in the spotlight for his upcoming film Bandar, but the actor recently grabbed headlines for his emotional remarks about his late father and Bollywood legend Dharmendra.   During his appearance on Aap Ki Adalat on India TV, Bobby Deol spoke candidly about Dhar

Cocktail 2 Trailer Out: Shahid Kapoor Gets Trapped Between Friendship, Love and Marriage Chaos

Cocktail 2 Trailer Out: Shahid Kapoor Gets Trapped Between Friendship, Love and Marriage Chaos

 Jun 02,2026

  After months of anticipation, the makers of Cocktail 2 have finally released the official trailer of the much-awaited romantic drama, and it is already generating massive buzz on social media.Featuring Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, the sequel appears to c

Taapsee Pannu Reveals Extreme Workout Struggles for Perfect Figure, Urges Young Women Not to Follow Unhealthy Fitness Trends

Taapsee Pannu Reveals Extreme Workout Struggles for Perfect Figure, Urges Young Women Not to Follow Unhealthy Fitness Trends

 Jun 01,2026

  Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu is once again making headlines—this time for her honest and heartfelt comments about body image struggles and unrealistic beauty standards. Known for speaking candidly on social issues, the actress recently revealed how she pushed herself to physical e

Trophy in Hand, Love in the Air! Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma Share Emotional Moment After RCB Win

Trophy in Hand, Love in the Air! Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma Share Emotional Moment After RCB Win

 Jun 01,2026

  The final of the Indian Premier League 2026 turned into a historic night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the franchise clinched its second consecutive IPL title with a dominant victory over the Gujarat Titans. Led by a sensational innings from Virat Kohli, RCB once again lifted the cove

© filmbees.com. All Rights Reserved.