Shraddha Kapoor is gearing up for one of her most significant screen comebacks yet, and it appears her paycheque reflects that. Two years after her last theatrical outing in ‘Stree 2’, the actress is set to return with Laxman Utekar‘s ‘Eetha’, a biopic on the legendary Tamasha artist Vithabai Narayangaonkar. According to the latest reports, Kapoor has substantially hiked her fee for the film, marking a major jump from her previous pay packets, even as the film navigates a separate controversy around its title.
Shraddha Kapoor’s fee shoots up to Rs 15 crore for ‘Eetha’
According to a report by Free Press Journal, Shraddha Kapoor has increased her fee to Rs. 15 crore for Eetha. Producer Dinesh Vijan, who has previously collaborated with the actress on both Stree and Stree 2, reportedly believes that the Vithabai biopic could be a career-defining, game-changing project for Kapoor and that her remuneration for the film is justified given its scale and significance.Kapoor has been attached to the biopic since 2025 and wrapped filming earlier this year, putting in an extended commitment to a role that has been described as one of her most demanding to date.
How Shraddha Kapoor’s ‘Eetha’ fee compares to her previous films
The reported Rs. 15 crore fee marks a sharp jump from Kapoor’s recent pay packets. For ‘Stree 2;, Kapoor was reportedly paid Rs. 5 crore, notably less than co-star Rajkummar Rao, who took home Rs. 6 crore for the film. For ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Shraddha Kapoor was reportedly paid Rs 7 crore.The hike effectively triples her ‘Stree 2’ fee and more than doubles what she earned for ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,’ positioning Eetha as Kapoor’s highest-paid project to date, at least going by these reported figures.
‘Eetha’ title controversy explained
Beyond the fee buzz, ‘Eetha’ has also found itself at the centre of a title dispute. The Nationalist Congress Party’s Film and Cultural Department (NCP Chitrapat va Sanskrutik Vibhag) has objected to the film’s title, arguing that “Eetha” does not adequately honour Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s legacy. The party has questioned why the film wasn’t simply titled Vitha or Vithabai instead.The department has emphasised that Vithabai Narayangaonkar was far more than a folk performer, she was a torchbearer of Maharashtra’s cultural and Tamasha art traditions and believes the current title fails to convey that impact. Adding weight to the objection, Vithabai’s sons, Kailash Narayangaonkar and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, along with her grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar, have backed the NCP department’s demand for a name change.
Anant V Joshi responds the title row
Actor Anant V Joshi, who features in ‘Eetha’, addressed the controversy in an exclusive conversation with Zoom. Joshi explained that the decision to avoid naming the film directly after Vithabai was made to sidestep potential complications down the line.Speaking on the Narayangaonkar family’s demand to use the real name, Joshi noted that the film only stands to benefit if the family feels completely comfortable with using the real person’s name, adding that such comfort lends the project greater credibility. He also pointed out that the makers have consistently credited whose story the film is telling, regardless of the title used.
‘Eetha’ cast and release date
Alongside Shraddha Kapoor, ‘Eetha’ also stars Randeep Hooda and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub in key roles. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the biopic is scheduled to hit theatres on August 28, making it one of the most closely watched releases of the year given both the fee buzz and the ongoing title debate.
