MUMBAI: Akshay Kumar is one of the highest paid superstars in Bollywood today. While the actor doesn't believe in profit sharing, he does charge producers a bomb (usually equivalent to the satellite/digital remuneration his films fetch). But these are for films where he plays a full fledged lead role. In Aanand L Rai's next directorial venture, that also features Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush as protagonists, the actor has an extremely special role. 

A source says, "Aanand L Rai required a leading superstar to step in for this extended guest appearance which is extremely impactful and pivotal to the film's narrative. He had offered the film to Hrithik Roshan who eventually couldn't do the project and then, Akshay accepted Rai's offer because of his respect for the filmmaker. It's not a very schedule heavy film and Akshay would be required for around two weeks for the shoot. He leaves for London next month for Bell Bottom, wraps up the film and once he's back, he will dive into Rai's film and Prithviraj almost back-to-back." 

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But an insider reveals that Akshay has been paid handsomely for the 14 day role. "The superstar has a fascination with number 9, which he considers as his lucky number. He always charges a fee that adds up to the number. Although he usually charges around Rs 1 crore a day for his film shoots, for Rai's Atrangi Re, he has paid almost double. He received a whopping Rs 27 crore as his remuneration for the film."

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Credits: Pinkvilla