Who Are the Richest Families in Bollywood and How Did They Build Their Empires?
Who Are the Richest Families in Bollywood and How Did They Build Their Empires?
People often say that the film industry has become a family business, with major Hindi cinema studios traditionally being family-run. Nowadays, these production houses have expanded into large corporations, boosting the wealth and status of prominent Bollywood families. The richest family among them is worth ₹10,000 crore.
The Hurun India Rich List 2024 has highlighted the wealthiest individuals across various sectors, including notable billionaires like Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. Among those from the film industry, the family of Bhushan Kumar, who heads the T-Series group, stands out. Their total wealth is estimated at an impressive ₹10,000 crore (over $1.2 billion), making the Kumars the richest family in Bollywood, a title previously held by the Kapoors and later the Chopras.
The extended Chopra family, known for owning Yash Raj Films and BR Films, held the title of the richest in Bollywood for many years until the Kumars surpassed them. Aditya Chopra’s wealth contributes to the family’s estimated net worth of ₹8,000 crore, which is still less than that of the T-Series family. Shah Rukh Khan’s family is valued at around ₹7,500 crore, primarily due to his earnings. In contrast, Salman Khan and his brothers have a combined worth of about ₹3,500 crore, significantly lower than the top contenders. Additionally, families from the South, like the Akkinenis and the Mega family (Allu-Konidela family), are believed to be wealthier than Salman’s family.
The Hurun Rich List didn’t give a detailed breakdown of the Kumar family’s wealth, but industry insiders suggest that around 80% of it is attributed to Bhushan Kumar alone. His sisters, Tulsi Kumar and Khushali Kumar, are estimated to be worth ₹250 crore and ₹100 crore, respectively, according to various sources. Additionally, Bhushan’s uncle, Kishan Kumar, who is also a co-owner of T-Series, adds to the family’s overall wealth.
The Kumar family’s journey is indeed remarkable, especially considering their humble beginnings. Just one generation ago, Gulshan Kumar, Bhushan’s father and Kishan’s brother, started as a fruit vendor in Delhi. His fortunes changed when he and his father opened a shop selling music cassettes in the 1970s. This venture paved the way for him to establish his own record label, Super Cassettes, which eventually evolved into T-Series. Today, T-Series is not only a leading music label but also owns one of the largest movie studios in India, along with various subsidiaries and an acting school located in Noida.
