Reign

Indian YouTuber and social commentator Dhruv Rathee has touched off a heated public debate by challenging Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan’s enormous wealth and advertising decisions, most specifically his endorsement of paan masala brands.

In a new video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Rathee pointed out that the 59-year-old thespian has now gained an estimated net worth of ₹12,400 crore, making him one of the world’s richest stars and even beating many of the best-known Hollywood stars. Rathee emphasized how hard it is even to think of such a huge amount of money and showed his point by making some shocking calculations.

As per Rathee, if Shah Rukh Khan just kept this money in the bank with a 7% annual interest rate, he’d be making approximately ₹870 crore per year without lifting a finger. Even after paying approximately 40% in taxes about ₹500 crore SRK would still have more disposable income per year than most could ever dream of.

Rathee went on to calculate how much luxury this amount could afford. He calculated that if SRK purchased a private aircraft and funded its yearly maintenance expenses, this would cost around ₹200 crore annually. If he bought one upmarket residential property somewhere on the planet each year, that would cost another ₹100 crore. Even with luxurious world tours, five-star accommodations, and personal expenditures, his yearly expenditures would be ₹400 crore still far short of the ₹870 crore he would earn just in interest alone.

The YouTuber made the argument that even with all that lavish spending, Shah Rukh Khan’s fortunes wouldn’t go down. And so he posed a sharp question to the actor:

My question to Shah Rukh Khan.@iamsrk pic.twitter.com/MZjCbsIkjx

— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) October 15, 2025

“Isn’t this money enough? If it is, then why do you still feel the need to promote harmful products like paan masala?”

Rathee remembered that as per a 2014 report, SRK was being given around ₹20 crore a year to promote a paan masala company. He inferred that in 2025, the figure could quite easily be ₹100 to ₹200 crore annually, adjusting for inflation and SRK’s increasing clout.

The influencer concluded by calling upon the actor to consider the social responsibility that goes with such enormous wealth and popularity.

“Ask yourself the question truthfully, what are you going to do with all that money? Think about how good it would be for the nation if such a huge star would refrain from endorsing such dangerous products,” Rathee said.

Also Read: Sukhwinder Singh Thought Shah Rukh Khan Was Drinking 6 Pegs a Day, Not Building 6-Pack Abs

His comments have since triggered debates on celebrity endorsements, money, and ethics in India.