Nearly two decades after Danny Boyle's 2008 masterpiece swept the Oscars, Kapoor has revealed that he is still receiving royalty cheques for his role as the slick game-show host, Prem Kumar.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave during a session titled 'The Ageless Rebel: Rewriting the Rules of Stardom', the 69-year-old actor shared an emotional update. "It's a sentimental moment. It's been over a decade and a half, and just yesterday, I received another payment cheque for Slumdog Millionaire," Kapoor disclosed.

The million-pound question

When pressed about the figures, Kapoor didn't shy away from the details. "Yesterday's cheque was for approximately ₹3.3 lakh. I'm happy to share this because I am a diligent taxpayer," he remarked with a smile.

The actor further revealed that the cumulative residual income from the film is staggering. "I am on track to receive nearly half a million pounds (roughly ₹5.5 crore) in total. So, in a way, I really am a millionaire! I never asked for this; the producers simply keep sending it."

Choosing art over money

Interestingly, Kapoor admitted that money was the furthest thing from his mind when he signed onto the project. At the time, the production team warned him they couldn't afford his usual salary.

"I did that film to refresh myself and to learn. I always want to remain relevant," he explained. He was so committed to working with Danny Boyle that he was prepared to do the role for free. Ironically, that "free" role has become one of the most consistent earners of his storied career.

What's next for the star?

Kapoor was recently seen in the Amazon Prime Video release Subedaar, playing retired soldier Arjun Maurya alongside Radhika Madan and Saurabh Shukla. Fans can next catch him in the highly anticipated spy-thriller Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, which is set for a 10 July release.