While Bollywood witnessed a series of hits last year, the celebrities who contributed the major chunk of the share have paid 3.46 percent less in advance taxes in 2015-16 compared to 2014-15.
Last year, the combined advance tax of the eight Bollywood biggies was Rs. 153.16 crore, but this year the total has come down to Rs. 147.85 crore. The eight Bollywood celebrities include Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra.
Salman, who ruled at the box office with two back-to-back hits last year, became the highest advance taxpayer, beating Shah Rukh, Akshay and other Bollywood stars. The "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" actor paid Rs. 32 crore as advance tax for 2015-16 compared to Rs. 26 crore for 2014-15.
Akshay, who had four big releases last year, paid the advance tax of Rs. 30 crore. In 2014-15, the "Rustom" actor paid the advance tax of Rs. 23 crore. Surprisingly, Ranbir is the third highest advance taxpayer with Rs. 22.3 crore, while in 2014-15 he had paid Rs. 19.7 crore.
Shah Rukh, who is touted as one of the richest actors in India, gained the fourth position with the advance tax payment of Rs. 20 crore. Interestingly, in 2014-15 the actor had topped the list with Rs. 32 crore. Aamir, who had no release last year, paid advance tax of Rs. 19.6 crore for 2015-16 compared to Rs. 15.8 crore for the year 2014-15.
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan paid Rs. 17.5 crore as advance tax for the year 2015-16. The "Piku" actor, who was in the news due to Panama Papers leak, paid Rs. 29.2 crore as advance tax for 2014-15.
Bollywood's "Singham" Ajay paid Rs. 5 crore as advance tax for 2015-16 and the same amount for 2014-15. The last celebrity in the advance taxpayers list is Priyanka. The former Miss World is the only actress to make it to the highest advance taxpayers list.
Priyanka, who has made a mark in Hollywood, paid Rs. 1.45 crore advance tax for 2015-16 compared to Rs. 2.46 crore for 2014-15.
Check below the list of top eight celebrities, as provided by Bollywood Hungama.
Advance tax paid by the celebrities (in Rs. crore):
| Celebrity | Advance tax paid 2015-16 | Advance tax paid 2014-15 |
| Salman Khan | 32 | 26 |
| Akshay Kumar | 30 | 23 |
| Ranbir Kapoor | 22.3 | 19.7 |
| Shah Rukh Khan | 20 | 32 |
| Aamir Khan | 19.6 | 15.8 |
| Amitabh Bachchan | 17.5 | 29.2 |
| Ajay Devgn | 5 | 5 |
| Priyanka Chopra | 1.45 | 2.46 |
| Total | 147.85 | 153.16 |
[1 lakh = 100,000 | 1 crore = 10 million | 100 crore = 1 billion]
