Rediff

Akshay Kumar is emerging as one of the most bankable stars in Bollywood today. His latest films, Garam Masala and Phir Hera Pheri, have made a whopping Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) at the box office, and PHP is still playing at theatres.

Over time, Akki has doled out hits like Khakhee, Mujhse Shadhi Karogi and Waqt: The Race Against Time in India and abroad. Even films that did not send the cash registers ringing at home opened to full houses abroad. Humko Deewana Kar Gaye and Dosti made $1 million and $1.5 million respectively in six months in the United Kingdom and the United States.

The year 2005 established Akki's popularity overseas -- the combined gross of his five releases in the year in UK was a hefty 3 million pounds.

A Rs 7.4 crore (Rs 74 million) deal has been struck to distribute his next film Jaan-e-man in the Mumbai territory.

He also has deals worth Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million) with Reliance and Adlabs for four films.

Akki is one of the big draws at international stage shows, and gets paid $1,25,000, a fee second only to Shah Rukh Khan.

Akshay charges Rs 4 crore to 5.5 crore (Rs 40 million to 55 million) per film, which is in the same league as Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

The advertising world seems to have woken up to Brand Akshay as well, with a Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million) per year deal.