Actor’s pay skyrocketed from ₹40 lakh to ₹20 crore?

In the film industry, debut as an actor is an achievement but clinching success for the first time is a milestone. Some actors get a career breakthrough with their very first film and even earn stardom while a few others struggle for years, slogging with unnoticed roles and waiting for that one big break.

When that break finally arrives, it changes their fate, like a much-needed reward for hard work and striving. Bollywood actor Jaideep Ahlawat experienced such a turning point with the web series Paatal Lok.

Before Paatal Lok, Jaideep acted in several films, including Vishwaroopam. He did gain recognition as an actor but couldn’t push to the next level in his career. However, the makers of Paatal Lok didn’t see him as a small-time actor. Instead, they gave him the lead role in the series. Released on Amazon Prime, Paatal Lok became a blockbuster and catapulted Jaideep to stardom.

Paatal Lok catapulted Jaideep as a busy actor. He reprised his role in the second season, Paatal Lok 2, which was released last month. The new season received an overwhelming response, boosting Jaideep’s popularity.

Eventually, it led to a hike in his remuneration. For Paatal Lok Season 1, Jaideep was paid just ₹40 lakh. At that time, he wasn’t much concerned about his paycheck, as he was more focused on grounding himself as an actor and it was a big opportunity. However, the series completely transformed his image, making him a star.

For Season 2, As per hindi media Jaideep’s remuneration saw a massive hike by 50 times. He reportedly received a whopping ₹20 crore, a pay scale on par with mid-range Bollywood stars.

It’s evident that audiences didn’t just watch Paatal Lok for its gripping story; many tuned in specifically for Jaideep. Given Jaideep’s impact on the series, his remuneration hike is completely justified.