Shraddha Kapoor is gearing up for one of his biggest screen returns yet, and his paycheck seems to reflect that. Two years after her last theatrical outing in ‘Stree 2’, the actress will return with Laxman Utekar‘Eetha’, a biopic on legendary Tamasha artist Vithabai Narayangaonkar. According to the latest reports, Kapoor has substantially increased his fee for the film, marking a major leap from his previous pay packets, even as the film navigates a separate controversy surrounding its title.
Shraddha Kapoor’s fee rises to Rs 15 crore for ‘Eetha’
According to a report by Free Press Journal, Shraddha Kapoor has increased her fee to Rs. 15 crores for Eetha. Producer Dinesh Vijan, who has previously worked with the actress on both Stree and Stree 2, believes the Vithabai biopic could be a career-defining and game-changing project for Kapoor and that her remuneration for the film is justified given its scale and importance.Kapoor has been linked to the biopic since 2025 and wrapped filming earlier this year, making an extended commitment to a role that has been described as one of her most demanding yet.
How does Shraddha Kapoor’s ‘Eetha’ share compare to her previous films
The reported Rs. The $15 million fee marks a big jump from Kapoor’s recent pay packets. For “Stree 2”, Kapoor was paid Rs. 5 crore, notably less than co-star Rajkummar Rao, who took home Rs. 6 crores for the film. For ‘Tu JhoothiMain Makkaar, Shraddha Kapoor was paid Rs 7 crore.The hike effectively triples his “Stree 2” share and more than doubles what he earned for “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” positioning Eetha as Kapoor’s highest-paid project to date, at least by these reported numbers.
‘Eetha’ Title Controversy Explained
Apart from the fee buzz, ‘Eetha’ has also found itself at the center of a title dispute. The Film and Culture Department of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP Chitrapat va Sanskrutik Vibhag) has objected to the film’s title, arguing that “Eetha” does not adequately honor Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s legacy. The party has questioned why the film was not simply titled Vitha or Vithabai.The department has stressed that Vithabai Narayangaonkar was much more than a folk performer, she was a bearer of the Tamasha cultural and artistic traditions of Maharashtra and believes that the current title does not convey that impact. Adding weight to the objection, Vithabai’s sons Kailash Narayangaonkar and Rajesh Narayangaonkar along with her grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar have supported the NCP department’s demand to change the name.
Going V Joshi answer the title row
Actor Anant V Joshi, who features in ‘Eetha’, addressed the controversy in an exclusive chat with Zoom. Joshi explained that the decision to avoid naming the film directly after Vithabai was taken to avoid potential complications.Speaking about the Narayangaonkar family’s demand to use the real name, Joshi noted that the film will only benefit if the family is completely comfortable with using the real person’s name, adding that such comfort lends more credibility to the project. He also noted that the creators have consistently credited the story of whoever is telling the film, 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 slated to hit theaters on August 28, making it one of the most watched releases of the year, given both the fee buzz and the ongoing title debate.