Salman Khan, the highest taxpayer in Bollywood

After a string of Rs 100 crore plus grossing films capped by his latest blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger, actor Salman Khan has emerged as the highest taxpayer in Bollywood forking out Rs eight crore for the September quarter.

Salman, 46, trumped all his peers and rivals in the tinsel town paying Rs 8 crore in advance tax in July-September this year as compared to Rs 5 crore in the same period a year ago, an income tax official told PTI here today.

Salman's romantic-action-thriller Ek Tha Tiger has clocked approximately Rs 198 crore at the box office. He has also starred in other Rs 100 crore films like Dabangg, Ready and Bodyguard.

The film's female lead and Salman's rumoured former lady love in real life, Katrina Kaif, paid Rs 2.60 crore compared to the year ago period's Rs 1.70 crore.

Salman's bete noire Shah Rukh Khan, who has not had any big release this year as yet, had his tax outgo flat at Rs 5 crore, the official said.

Akshay Kumar, another big name in Bollywood, paid Rs 7.5 crore advance tax in comparison to Rs 5 crore he had paid last year during the same period, he said.

Among the other Khans, Aamir's fortunes may have taken a hit by his mega reality show Satyamev Jayate as reflected by his payment of Rs 3.25 crore as against Rs 4.50 crore last year.

Saif Ali Khan, whose films Agent Vinod and Cocktail had varying responses at the box office, paid a tax of Rs three crore compared to Rs 1.7 crore in the year ago period, the official said.

Kareena Kapoor, who is believed to be getting married to Saif soon and is looking forward to the release of the film Heroine, has paid an advance tax of Rs 2.20 crore compared to Rs 1.5 crore she did in the same period last year.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan, who will soon be celebrating his 70th birthday, paid Rs 5 crore against the Rs 1.4 crore he paid last year while his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's outgo jumped to Rs three crore from Rs 1.1 crore, the official said.

Among personalities in the non-film category, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar paid an advance tax of Rs two crore in comparison to Rs 1.75 crore in the same period last year, the official added.