Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has emerged as top tax payer from Bollywood. He paid Rs 31 crore as income tax for the year 2008-09.This is the highest income tax paid by any film star in India. It is also the highest income tax paid by Akshay Kumar himself.Compared to this year his income tax paid last year looks miniscule. He had paid around Rs 12 crore as income tax last year. This is yet to be declared as to how Akshay earned so much to enable him pay so much in taxes. Akshay had charged astronomical Rs 2.5 crore per show for Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. The show that was a super success.
Akshay is one of the best Bollywood actors who has been consistently giving hits to the industry. Singh IS Kinng was the last years’ one of the biggest hits. But Kumar’s career hasn’t always been so charmed. He started his career with the mediocre Saugandh in 1991 before delivering his first hit, Khiladi in 1992. He racked up action-star hits throughout the ’90s, earning him the tag of “Khiladi” (player) Kumar.Then, after more than a dozen flops – barring a cameo in Shah Rukh’s Dil To Pagal Hai – he bounced back with surprise hits Jaanwar (1999) and Hera Pheri (2000), which displayed his flair for comedy.
Consistent hits from Ek Rishta in 2001 to Waqt in 2005 were balanced with flops such as Jaani Dushman, Bewafa and Insaan during the same period. His fortunes changed for better when he started accepting lead comic roles, becoming the czar of mindless entertainers, a slot that was originally held by comic king Govinda.