Aishwarya Rai

With Aishwarya Rai carrying home a pay packet of Rs 40 million for her proposed stint as Rajnikanth’s leading lady in Shankar’s Robot, she has now become the highest-paid actress in Indian cinema. “Yes, it’s close to Rs.40 million. And she’s very amused when she reads that she is the highest-paid actress in Bollywood. With three hits in a row, Guru, Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar, Ash’s equity as a Rai and a Bachchan have gone through the roof,” said a source close to Aishwarya.

“It is no surprise that Aishwarya is getting Rs.40 million. It’s still chicken feed compared with what Rajnikanth carries home,” a source said.

“The dubbed Hindi version of Chandramukhi came and went. And Rajni’s biggest hit Shivaji – The Boss is in no hurry to be released in Hindi. With Ash in Robot it looks like an attractive non-regional film,” said another source close to the project.