When A Comedian Earned More Than Amitabh & Salman

Pooja Sharma
April 25, 2025
Celebrity, Comedy

Back in the 60s, when Bollywood was dominated by action heroes and romantic leads, one comedian was making more money than some of the biggest stars in the industry! Mehmood, known for his impeccable comic timing, was India’s highest-paid actor during this time. Charging ₹7.5 lakh for just two-week cameos, he was pocketing more than legends like Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, and even Rajesh Khanna, who earned less than that for full-length films!

Mehmood ruled the silver screen with iconic roles in movies like Padosan, Bombay to Goa, and Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong. His stellar comic roles made him a bankable star in an era when comedians were rarely seen as leading men. His success proves that comedy can truly be king in Bollywood!