New Delhi, Aug. 7 -- There was a time when people believed that only the film industry could command crores in remuneration for a single project. Today, television shows are matching those numbers, thanks to multiple episodes boosting the overall payout. In fact, several TV actors now charge lakhs for just one episode or a day's shoot. But who tops the list? Currently, the highest-paid television actor in India earns a staggering Rs.14 lakh per episode - and interestingly, this actor wasn't even active in the industry for over a decade.

Notable, the highest-paid TV actor isn't a man, highlighting the encouraging progress in bridging the gender pay gap in showbiz industry.

Smriti Irani is now the highest-paid television actor in India. ...