What makes Akshay Kumar, highest-paid Indian entertainer, a saleable brand

For an actor who famously started his working life as a waiter and a cook and whose early days in Bollywood were spent leaping mid-air, Akshay Kumar has come a long way. With $40.5 million (Rs 2.78 billion) to his name and ranked 76 in the global Forbes Top Earning 100 Celebrities 2018 list, he is the biggest celebrity brand that India has today, leaving the industry’s three Khans (Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir) who have held sway for years, way behind.

Kumar has moved up four places from 2017 list (80) and ousted Salman Khan from the pedestal. Salman, who ranks 82 on the 2018 Forbes list, is down 11 places from 2017 (71) and Shahrukh Khan who was ranked 65 in the 2017 list is not on it this year.

Kumar made his debut in 1991, as an ‘action’ star in movies that looked for athletic prowess over acting chops. Soon however he donned a new mask, that of a comedy star and then recently, he has changed his colours yet again. Today Kumar is known for the nationalistic-patriotic roles he does, a persona he often carries into his off-screen engagements with brands.