Chennai, November 13, 2026: Rajinikanth has taken the top position in South Indian Star Power Index, with Yash and Prabhas emerging as his closest competitors. The superstar’s lead comes after Jailer 2 became the highest-grossing South Indian film of 2026, strengthening a theatrical record that already includes Coolie and Vettaiyan. However, the difference between the top three is much smaller when their recent films are compared together.
One of the biggest challenges in ranking South Indian stars is the difference in their release schedules. While Ram Charan returned with Peddi in 2026, actors such as Yash and Prabhas have worked with considerably longer gaps between releases. Comparing only their latest collections would therefore overlook the established commercial strength of their earlier films. The inaugural index addresses this by evaluating the last three lead films of each actor, irrespective of release year.
Sacnilk Star Power Index 2026: Top 5 Rankings
How the index works: This inaugural edition uses a worldwide box-office performance model. Every actor is assessed on his last three lead releases, with 50% weight given to the latest film, 30% to the previous film and 20% to the third. The weighted worldwide gross is then divided by the highest figure among the five actors and multiplied by 100. For example, Yash’s weighted collection of ₹583.18 crore is measured against Rajinikanth’s ₹621.51 crore, giving him 93.8 points.
Note: This is a gross-collection-based index rather than an audience popularity poll. It does not separately score profitability, release scale or opening-day occupancy. The November 12 cutoff applies to running films, including Jailer 2, making its score provisional. Overseas estimates are subject to revision. The scores compare the five selected actors and are not an all-industry ranking.
The Three Films Behind Each Star’s Ranking
All figures are worldwide gross collections in Indian rupees. The films are arranged from most recent to oldest, with Jailer 2 reflecting collections through November 12, 2026.
Rajinikanth’s Recent Box Office Record Gives Him the Advantage
Rajinikanth’s lead is built on the extraordinary performance of Jailer 2, which has surpassed his previous theatrical benchmarks and become the first Tamil film to cross ₹800 crore worldwide. What makes his position particularly interesting is that Coolie, despite receiving an average theatrical verdict, still delivered a major opening and substantial collections across international markets.
The gap between his latest film and Vettaiyan also illustrates the importance of the recency weighting. His strongest commercial result receives the greatest influence, allowing the index to reflect his current theatrical standing without completely overlooking earlier performances. There is nevertheless a clear difference between having the biggest recent blockbuster and maintaining an equally strong record across every release.
Yash and Prabhas Are Separated by Less Than Seven Points
Yash’s second-place finish is supported largely by the enormous success of KGF Chapter 2, while Toxic demonstrated that his ability to generate opening-day demand remains formidable. The latter collected ₹137 crore worldwide on its first day, although it could not maintain that momentum through the rest of its theatrical run. The contrast between the two films explains why Yash remains highly competitive without taking the top position.
Prabhas presents almost the reverse situation. The Raja Saab also crossed ₹100 crore worldwide on its opening day but finished considerably below the expectations created by his earlier blockbusters. Kalki 2898 AD and Salaar, however, provide two substantial commercial results in the same three-film comparison. Their contribution keeps him within striking distance of Yash, despite the much weaker outcome of his latest release.
Vijay Holds Fourth as Ram Charan Enters the Top Five
Vijay occupies fourth place, although his three-film record is more consistent in scale than that of several actors ranked above him. Leo remains his biggest worldwide grosser, followed by The GOAT and Jana Nayagan. None of these films reached the four-figure worldwide milestone achieved by Yash or Prabhas, but all three collected more than ₹300 crore globally.
Ram Charan completes the top five with 39.6 points, largely supported by Peddi’s worldwide performance. The Buchi Babu Sana directorial collected ₹341.90 crore, marking a substantial improvement over Game Changer and Vinaya Vidheya Rama. Interestingly, his three-film record stretches back to 2019, reflecting the relatively limited number of solo-led theatrical releases in recent years. Peddi accounts for nearly 70% of his weighted total, helping him narrowly move ahead of Suriya despite the latter’s three successful releases in 2026.
Also Read: Jailer 2 Box Office Collection | Toxic Worldwide Collection
