Superstars and number games continue to shock. Buzz is, Hrithik Roshan will not take the profit sharing route but will be paid Rs 50 crore for Ashutosh Gowariker's period romance Mohenjo Daro. The actor's astronomical fee has raised eyebrows since the filmmaker is yet to find a studio ready to back him and the box-office fate of Hrithik's next, Siddharth Anand's action thriller Bang Bang is still not known.

According to a source close to the development, the director is in advanced talks with a leading studio. “The modalities are being worked out and the studio will come on board in the next 15 days. Hrithik's first-of-its-kind pay structure has been taken into account,“ says the source.

Says trade analyst Amod Mehra, “This will make Hrithik the highest paid actor in the country and Mohenjo Daro the most expensive film.“

Exhibitor Manoj Desai won't predict the fate of Mohenjo Daro but is confident that Hrithik continues to be a crowdpuller. “He was brilliant in Ashutosh's period drama Jodhaa Akbar and Mohenjo Daro is also a period drama."

Despite repeated attempts, Hrithik remained unavailable for comment.