'Taxing' times are here for Bollywood actors

Avinash Iyermoneycontrol.com

While it's known that Bollywood actors earn hundreds of crores annually by way of films, television commitments and endorsements, what many do not know is that they are often among the top tax-paying citizens of the country. Just like they battle at the box-office to stake claim to the numero uno spot, here too there's stiff competition among actors as they shell out taxes that run into crores.

With films these days raking in upwards of 100-crores and some actors opting to share these profits, their remunerations often touch astronomical levels. Likewise, the amount they pay as income tax is also bound to leave you open-mouthed. With financial year 2013-14 drawing to a close, we look at what some of our beloved actors have paid in the last two years. While the following figures may or may not be indicative of tax-paying trends in 2014, they are sure to boggle your mind.

Akshay Kumar, known for his action hero image and dare-devil stunts, has been paying the highest advance income tax for six straight years when compared to his Bollywood peers. In 2013, he paid Rs 18 crore as opposed to Rs 20 crore in 2012. Will he retain his top-spot in 2014 is something we need to wait and watch.

Amitabh Bachchan, the only actor of his generation who does commendable work in films as well as television, paid Rs 12 crore as advance income tax, up from Rs 7 crore in 2012.

In 2013, Salman Khan, the messiah of commercial cinema-loving masses and whose films indisputably have the maximum crowd-pulling ability, had coughed up Rs 11 crore as advance income tax. The actor had paid Rs 13.5 crore in 2012. Looks like Salman, who drops his shirt at the drop of a hat, is equally at ease when it comes to paying taxes.

Shah Rukh Khan shelled out Rs 10.5 crore in 2013, less than what he had paid as advance income tax in 2012 which was Rs 15 crore. The third of the Khan triumvirate, Aamir Khan, is said to have paid Rs 8 crore in 2013, a crore less than what he had in 2012.

Kareena Kapoor paid a cool Rs 4 crore as advance income tax in 2013 as compared to Rs 5.6 crore in 2012. In 2013, Katrina Kaif paid Rs 4.5 crore as tax, while Priyanka Chopra trailed behind with Rs 2 crore.