Not Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan, but THIS South star is the MOST POPULAR male actor in India

In the game of fame, there are a few names that have always outshone others. The Khans, Kapoors, Bachchans, all the megastars have been known to dominate the stardom conversation in India.

However, as they say, everything changes, and the only thing that remains constant is change itself. Similarly, the dynamics of celebrity popularity are also shifting. In today’s time, it is notShah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan who are enjoying the reigns on the popularity ballet, but a star from the South Indian film industry. He is the one who is known as the ‘Rebel’ star, who in recent times featured in pan-India’s biggest releases; he is none other than the ‘darling’ - Prabhas.According to the latest popularity report by Ormax, as of April 2025, in the India ranking, Prabhas stands at the number one position. The ‘Kalki AD’ star who gave cinephiles ‘Baahubali,’ ‘Salaar’ and more, stands tall in the latest popularity ranking. And if you think that on number two you will find a Bollywood name, well, you will have to wait a little longer. Following him closely behind another South heartthrob, Vijay, at number 2. This shows how the South Indian film industry is no longer confined to regional borders—it has gone national, even global. And now, for all the Bollywood lovers, here comes a name they were waiting for - the Badshah of Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan. The 'King of Bollywood', who recently made his Cannes debut, holds the third position. Following him is the man who is now famous not with his real but reel name - ‘Pushpa,’ yet we are talking about everyone's beloved South star, Allu Arjun. And next, he is followed by another South actor, Ajith Kumar. This Tamil cinema giant secured fifth place on the list, and behind him are Mahesh Babu on number 6, Ram Charan on number 7, and Salman Khan on number 8.

The last two positions are also divided between a national award-winning star and an artist whose song made India win an Oscar. On number 9 is Akshay Kumar, and on number 10 is Jr. NTR.

This evolving popularity chart highlights how audiences across India are embracing talent beyond traditional boundaries, with South stars now sharing the spotlight alongside Bollywood's biggest names.