New Delhi

The film industry, particularly Bollywood, is known for its high-budget movies, and box office collections, and extends beyond fame and glamour. In 2023, Hindi films generated INR 13,161 crore globally, with USD 600 million coming from international markets.  

Advertisment

However, among all of Bollywood's influential figures, only one has attained billionaire status.  

Ronnie Screwvala: Bollywood's sole billionaire 

Film producer Ronnie Screwvala stands out as the wealthiest individual in Bollywood. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at USD 1.55 billion (approximately INR 13,000 crore), making him the industry's only billionaire. Following Screwvala is Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, whose net worth is possibly close but doesn't quite reach the billion-dollar mark.  

Advertisment

The Hurun Rich List reports that Bhushan's family has a combined net worth of INR 1.2 billion, though this includes other stakeholders. Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan are next in line, each with a net worth exceeding USD 850 million. Juhi Chawla, India's wealthiest female actor, completes the top five with a net worth of USD 550 million. 

How did Screwvala achieve this? 

Ronnie Screwvala's journey to wealth began modestly. In the 1970s, he started a toothbrush manufacturing business. He then capitalised on India's cable TV boom in the early 1980s by venturing into the cable industry. In 1990, Screwvala founded UTV with an initial investment of INR 37,000.   

Advertisment

The company started as a TV production house and later expanded into film production. UTV was behind popular TV shows like Shanti and Sea Hawks and later produced successful films such as Swades, Jodhaa Akbar, Fashion, Barfi, and Chennai Express.

Also read: What is keeping you awake: anxiety, insomnia or both?

2012 was a turning point when Screwvala sold his stake in UTV to Disney for a billion dollars. He later established RSVP Movies, a new production company that made films like Uri and Kedarnath. 

Diversified investments

Screwvala also made large investments in companies like pGrad, Usports, and Unliazer, which contributed substantially to his fortune.