Not Vicky Kaushal or Rishab Shetty, this actor tops the list of 2025’s highest-earning stars with nearly Rs 1000 crore

Two villain roles, two massive hits, THIS actor unexpectedly rules 2025’s box-office scoreboard.

The box office race for 2025 has finally settled, and the biggest surprise is that Akshaye Khanna, with just two releases, has taken the No. 1 spot. The actor, who played two powerful villain roles this year, has delivered back-to-back box office successes, pushing his global earnings to almost Rs 1000 crore. His performance has left behind top stars like Rishab Shetty, Vicky Kaushal, Akshay Kumar and Mohanlal.

Who is the highest earner of 2025?

Akshaye Khanna appeared in only two films this year, yet both turned into major worldwide blockbusters.

• Chhava (February 2025)
  Playing Aurangzeb opposite Vicky Kaushal’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Akshaye’s cold, controlled performance stood out. The film became a global phenomenon, collecting Rs 807.91 crore worldwide.

• Dhurandhar (Released 5 December 2025)
  His second release, where he plays the feared dacoit Rahman, opened strongly. In just four days, the film earned Rs 185.5 crore worldwide.

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Together, Akshaye’s films have collected Rs 993.41 crore, making him 2025’s most bankable actor worldwide.

Who else made it to the Top 5?

Rishab Shetty

The Kannada star delivered just one film in 2025: Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1. Not only did he direct it, but he also played the lead. The film crossed Rs 852.16 crore worldwide, continuing the Kantara brand’s massive popularity.

Vicky Kaushal

Vicky had only one release, Chhava, but its mammoth run gave him a spot in the top three. The film’s total worldwide collection, Rs 807.91 crore.

Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar stayed busy with four films: Sky Force, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5 and Jolly LLB 3. Together, the films made Rs 755.3 crore worldwide, keeping him firmly in the top league.

Mohanlal

Mohanlal’s 2025 lineup included L2: Empuraan, Thudaram and Hridayapoovaram. The combined global collection was Rs 578.45 crore, proving his pan-India pull remains strong.