The Malayalam film industry is rich with talented actresses who have consistently achieved success in various eras. Actresses like Sheela, Sharada, Jayabharathi, Seema, Sreevidya, Ambika, Geetha, Suhasini, Ambika, Shobha, Urvashi, Parvathy, Sanyukta Varma, Manju Warrier, Kavya Madhavan, Bhavana, Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nazriya, Rima Kallingal, Aparna Balamurali, Nikhila Vimal, Sanyukta Menon, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Kalyani Priyadarshan are some of the enduring personalities in the industry.
While these actresses have earned recognition for their performances, it is noteworthy that lead roles for actresses are limited in Malayalam cinema. Despite this, they actively participate in diverse roles and strive to excel. In the context of the Malayalam film industry, Manju Warrier stands out as the leading actress, known for her versatile performances. She has been recognized with the title of “Lady Superstar” in Malayalam cinema.
Manju Warrier, who made her mark before marriage, returned to the industry after a hiatus and has been widely accepted by the Malayali audience. Currently, she is the highest-earning actress in Malayalam cinema, reportedly receiving remuneration ranging from 75 lakhs to 1 crore for a movie. This information is based on rankings provided by the website “Top Movie Rankings.”
Following Manju Warrier, Mamta Mohandas holds the second position in terms of remuneration, earning up to 50 lakhs for a film. Mamta is known for her versatility and has excelled in comedic roles, contributing significantly to the industry. Amala Paul, with a remuneration of up to 40 lakhs for a Tamil film, is listed third in the rankings. Parvathy Thiruvothu, known for her strong performances in women-centric roles, secures the fourth position, earning up to 35 lakhs for a movie.
Aishwarya Lekshmi and Parvathy are also listed in the rankings, earning up to 35 lakhs and 30 lakhs, respectively. Other actresses, including Nayan Thara and Keerthy Suresh, are reported to have earned more than 30 lakhs in other language films but have not achieved similar success in Malayalam cinema.
Notably, Aparna Balamurali, who won a national award, received a remuneration of 30 lakhs. Kalyani Priyadarshan, the new sensation in Malayalam cinema, is recognized with 25 lakhs. Young actresses like Nikhila Vimal and Sanyukta Menon also receive 25 lakhs as remuneration.
Manju Warrier leads the chart as the highest-earning actress in Malayalam cinema, with Mamta Mohandas and Amala Paul following closely. These actresses, despite facing limitations in lead roles, continue to strive for excellence in the industry.