Bollywood’s richest billionaire: Ronnie Screwvala who is a well-known name in Indian cinema has become the richest person in Bollywood, surpassing even its biggest stars. According to Forbes’ 2025 Billionaire List, his net worth stands at $1.5 billion, making him the only billionaire in the Hindi film industry. This wealth surpasses the combined net worth of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.
Born in Mumbai in 1956, Ronnie Screwvala started his career in the late 1970s by manufacturing toothbrushes. His business took a turn when he recognized the potential of cable television in India during the 1980s. As color television gained popularity with the Asian Games, he ventured into cable distribution laying the foundation for his future in the entertainment industry.
In 1990, he founded UTV which is a company that later became UTV Motion Pictures. Under his leadership, UTV produced successful films such as Swades, Rang De Basanti, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Jodhaa Akbar, Fashion, Delhi Belly and Barfi. The company also made popular television shows like Shanti, Hip Hip Hurray, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Khichdi, and Shararat.
In 2012, Screwvala made a major business move by selling UTV to Disney for a billion dollars. This deal allowed him to explore new opportunities while maintaining a strong presence in the entertainment sector. Five years later, he launched RSVP Movies, producing films such as Kedarnath, Uri: The Surgical Strike, The Sky Is Pink and Sam Bahadur.
Apart from films, Screwvala has invested in several successful businesses. He co-founded UpGrad which is an online education platform. Also he cofounded Unilazer which is an investment firm and USports which is a sports management company.
In 2024, Screwvala made his television debut as a judge on Shark Tank India, further cementing his reputation as a leading
entrepreneur.