Sunny Deol turns 68: Here’s how much the Ramayana actor was paid for his debut flick

Actor Sunny Deol, the face of courage and patriotism in Indian cinema, turns 68 today, October 19. With his iconic dialogue delivery, thunderous action scenes, and unmistakable screen presence, Deol has ruled Bollywood for over four decades. As fans celebrate the birthday of the Ramayana star, let’s rewind to where it all began - his debut, his paycheck, and the journey to superstardom.

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A Star is Born: Sunny Deol’s Blockbuster Debut

Born to veteran actor Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur in 1957, Sunny Deol carried cinema in his DNA. At just 26, he made his smashing debut with Betaab (1983) opposite Amrita Singh. The romantic action film, directed by Rahul Rawail, became an instant hit and turned Sunny into the new poster boy of intensity and raw emotion.

Betaab not only impressed audiences with its passionate storyline and RD Burman’s soulful music but also established Deol as one of Bollywood’s most powerful newcomers. And if you’re wondering how much the debutant star earned for his first movie - brace yourself - Sunny Deol was reportedly paid just Rs 5 lakh for Betaab.

From Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 50 Crore: A Journey of Grit and Glory

Betaab was made on a modest budget of Rs 3 crore but went on to gross around Rs 13 crore, making it one of the highest earners of 1983. Sunny’s performance even earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. Over the years, however, the actor remained grossly underpaid despite delivering iconic hits like Ghayal, Border, and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. But time, and Sunny’s sheer persistence, changed the script.

Following the record-breaking success of Gadar 2, reports suggest Sunny’s fees skyrocketed to as high as Rs 50 crore, though some sources claimed he charged Rs 8 crore for the movie. Meanwhile, media reports also suggest that he charged Rs 50 crore for Jaat. Reportedly, the movie also starring Randeep Hooda, was made at a budget of Rs 100 crore and Deol took away a large chunk of the budget. However, the Ghayal star didn’t comment on it saying, 'money matters are personal and should not be shared'.

For his upcoming project, Ramayana, Sunny is reportedly commanding between Rs 40–45 crore per film, Rs 20 crore for each film of the two part saga.

Sunny Deol’s Next Chapter: Playing Lord Hanuman

The actor is all set to portray Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious project Ramayana, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana. The film will be made in two parts, and Sunny’s remuneration is said to be around Rs 20 crore per installment.

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That’s not all! Sunny also has Border 2 and Gadar 3 lined up, ensuring that fans will continue to see their favourite action hero roar on screen for years to come.