As the highly anticipated romantic comedy-drama Cocktail 2 gears up for its grand theatrical release on June 19, 2026, the spotlight has intensely shifted toward the project’s massive financial dynamics. Directed by Homi Adajania and produced under the premium banner of Maddock Films, the spiritual sequel is generating massive trade buzz not just for its chart-busting trailers, but also for the heavy paychecks drawn by its star-studded lead trio.
The Remuneration Breakdown
According to inside reports published by Bollywood Hungama, a whopping ₹35 crore was allocated exclusively toward the remuneration of the three leading actors. Leading man Shahid Kapoor has reportedly emerged as the highest-paid asset of the film, taking home a staggering ₹21 crore paycheck.
Shahid’s massive premium fee is nearly four times the salary drawn by national crush Rashmika Mandanna and almost three times the commercial market rate paid to Kriti Sanon for this modern relationship drama.
Star Cast Financial Matrix
| Lead Actor | Character Name | Reported Salary (Theatrical) | Multiplier / Comparison |
| Shahid Kapoor | Kunal | ₹21 Crore | Highest paid; roughly 60% of total cast pool |
| Kriti Sanon | Ally | ₹8 Crore | Nearly 1/3rd of Shahid Kapoor’s paycheck |
| Rashmika Mandanna | Diya | ₹6 Crore | Exactly 1/4th of Shahid Kapoor’s premium fee |
| Total Lead Casting Cost | — | ₹35 Crore | Combined lead cast resource allocation |
Career Peak Theatrical Salaries
According to reliable industry sources close to the development team, this project marks the most lucrative theatrical movie contract signed by all three individual leads so far.
“This is the biggest individual paycheck for the trio throughout their professional careers for a traditional big-screen theatrical project. While Shahid Kapoor has admittedly drawn slightly higher massive sums for direct-to-OTT digital ventures like Bloody Daddy, Farzi, and the recently shot Farzi 2, this stands as his absolute peak theatrical baseline pricing.”
Budget Allocation of the ₹150 Crore Rom-Com
Cocktail 2 is officially entering the record books as one of the most expensive romantic comedies ever bankrolled in Hindi cinema history, with producer Dinesh Vijan mounting the project on a grand scale. The total budget breakdown reveals a meticulously structured economic map:
- Production & Scale Assets: ₹95 crore went directly into production values, scenic international locations across Italy, styling, and supporting cast fees.
- Star Cast Remuneration: ₹35 crore was used for securing the principal trio.
- P&A Campaign: ₹20 crore was allocated for prints, marketing blitz, and international advertising.
While the actors and production executives have chosen to remain quiet about these specific salaries, the film has already recovered over 50% of its massive investment through music, theatrical, and pre-release satellite deals. Reliving the spirit of the 2012 classic, Cocktail 2 lands in cinemas worldwide on June 19.