Mumbai: Jaideep Ahlawat, who rose to national fame for his role as Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary in Amazon Prime Video’s gritty crime series Paatal Lok, recently addressed reports claiming he charged a staggering ₹20 crore for the show’s second season — a massive jump from the ₹40 lakh he reportedly earned for Season 1.
Speaking in an interview, Jaideep laughed off the speculation:
“Arre yaar itna tha toh mujhe bata toh dete. Main kuch kar leta iss paise ka. Hai kahan ye paisa, gaya kahan?”
(If it was really that much, someone should have told me. I would’ve done something with that money. Where is it? Where did it go?)
While denying the ₹20 crore figure, Jaideep didn’t reveal his actual fee. Still, his return in Season 2 as the brooding inspector was eagerly awaited and widely celebrated.
Paatal Lok 2: Same Grit, Bigger Cast
Season 2 of Paatal Lok, produced by Sudip Sharma and directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware, brought back key cast members like Ishwak Singh and Gul Panag, while introducing fresh faces such as Tillotama Shome, Jahnu Barua, and Nagesh Kukunoor.
Jaideep’s grounded yet intense performance continues to anchor the show, reaffirming his reputation as one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors.
Upcoming Projects
On the film front, Jaideep was last seen in Maharaj (2024) alongside Junaid Khan, Shalini Pandey, and Sharvari. But the actor isn’t slowing down.
His upcoming lineup includes:
- Jewel Thief with Saif Ali Khan
- Hisaab opposite Shefali Shah
- A yet-untitled project with Vipul Amrutlal Shah
- A collaboration with Neeraj Yadav
He is also set to appear in a villainous role in the highly anticipated Family Man 3, starring Manoj Bajpayee.