Shahrukh, Salman Mumbai’s biggest taxpayers

MUMBAI: Several Bollywood stars emerged as the biggest tax payers from Mumbai, with the two Khans - Shahrukh and Salman - leading the pack by paying 15 crore each in taxes during the financial year ending 31 March 2012.

While Shahrukh’s tax outgo was 20 per cent less than last year’s, Salman’s was 20 per cent higher in 2011-12.

Shahrukh had two hits last year under his belt, Ra.One and Don 2. According to industry reports, Shahrukh charges a fee of 30-35 crore per film, and around 6-7 crore for his endorsements.

Salman, who also had two big hits last year - Ready and Bodyguard - reportedly charges 40 crore per film and has an endorsement rate of 1.5 crore a day.

Bachchan, popular for his game show Kaun Banega Crorepati apart from his movie roles, paid a tax of seven crore. But Bachchan’s tax outgo declined by 10 per cent compared to 2010-11. The veteran actor’s earnings largely come from KBC, where he charges a fee of 1.25 crore per episode.

According to industry reports, Bachchan charges an endorsement fee of one to two crore, while his movie fees range from two to three crore per film. Saif Ali Khan Pataudi, the hero of Agent Vinod, too paid seven crore, which is 50 per cent higher than the tax he paid the previous year.

Ranbir Kapoor, the actor who caught the fancy of many with his role in Rockstar, also paid seven crore. Kapoor charges 10 crore per film and his endorsement fee is between 1.5 and two crore.

A senior income-tax official said, “A significant part of the leading film stars’ income come from fees for promotions and endorsements. The fees are determined by the market value of the stars in the film industry.”