Thug Life Cast Salary: What Trisha, Simbu, And Others Reportedly Earned In Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam Film

Thug Life Cast Salary: As Thug Life, the much-anticipated Tamil gangster drama, gears up for its global release on June 5, 2025, fresh reports have shed light on the remuneration of its principal cast members. Directed by Mani Ratnam and co-written with actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, the film boasts a sprawling ensemble and a massive reported budget of ₹300 crore.

The film reunites Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam for the first time since Nayakan (1987) and has been produced under the banners of Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies. Featuring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR (Simbu), Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and others, Thug Life is expected to be one of the year's major theatrical releases. Music for the film is composed by A.R. Rahman, with cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad.

Cast Salaries Come to Light

According to a report by ABP Nadu, citing trade sources, actress Trisha Krishnan, who plays a character named Indhrani in the film, has received a significant hike in her remuneration. For Thug Life, she has reportedly been paid ₹12 crore. This marks a substantial increase from her previous outing, Good Bad Ugly, where she was reportedly paid ₹4 crore.

Silambarasan, who plays a key role in the film alongside Kamal Haasan, is said to have earned ₹40 crore for his performance. Ashok Selvan and Joju George have reportedly each been paid ₹1 crore, while actress Abhirami is believed to have received ₹50 lakh for her role.

Notably, Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, who are also co-producers of the film, are reportedly not drawing individual salaries. Instead, they are expected to share the profits generated from the film's performance.

Legal Row in Karnataka Over Kamal Haasan's Remarks

As anticipation builds for Thug Life, the film has found itself embroiled in a political and cultural controversy in Karnataka. Actor Kamal Haasan recently approached the Karnataka High Court seeking legal intervention to ensure the film's smooth release in the state.

This move comes in response to opposition from certain pro-Kannada groups, who demanded a ban on the film following Kamal Haasan's remarks during the film's audio launch event in Chennai on May 24. At the event, Kamal Haasan reportedly claimed that the Kannada language originated from Tamil. The comment triggered backlash in Karnataka, with calls for a public apology from the actor.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), responding to pressure from protestors, announced a ban on the release of Thug Life in the state on May 30, citing Kamal Haasan's remarks. The KFCC's statement followed a 24-hour deadline it had issued for the actor to clarify or retract his statement.

In response, Kamal Haasan filed a petition through the CEO of his production company, Raaj Kamal Films International. The plea requests the court to instruct the Karnataka state government, police department, and industry bodies not to obstruct the screening of Thug Life. It also seeks police protection to ensure the film's unhindered release across theaters in the state.

Behind the Scenes

Apart from its high-profile cast and budget, Thug Life features a robust technical team. The film's action sequences have been choreographed by Anbariv, production design is by Sharmishta Roy, and costume design is handled by Eka Lakhani, with Amritha Ram specifically designing for Kamal Haasan. Akihito Ikeda is credited with special makeup for Kamal Haasan. VFX supervision is by H. Monesh, and sound design is by Anand Krishnamoorthi.

The soundtrack, composed by A.R. Rahman, includes vocals by Charulatha Mani and Shruti Haasan. The technical crew spans several recording studios, with audio engineers and supervisors from Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios contributing to the film's sound.

Thug Life is set to release in both standard and IMAX formats, offering audiences a wide-screen cinematic experience. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings in Karnataka will affect the film's release in the state.