India's 10 highest paid CEOs

Kalanithi Maran, Executive Chairman, Sun TV Network. Photograph: Courtesy, Sun TV Network

Media tycoon Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kavery Kalanithi have retained the top two slots among the highly paid executives in the country.

In 2013-14, the couple's remuneration was Rs 59.89 crore (Rs 598.9 million) each, including salary and perquisites and other allowances.

According to BS Research Bureau data, the difference between the Sun TV promoters and other promoter CEO, belong to other Indian business group, Naveen Jindal's package was Rs 22.93 crore (Rs 229.3 million). Jindal took Rs 36.96 crore (Rs 369.6 million) in 2013-14.

According to Sun TV's 2013-14 Annual Report, Kalanithi Maran, executive chairman of the Company, drawn Rs 13.1 crore (Rs 131 million) and perquisites and other allowances of Rs 46.7 crore (Rs 467 million).

Remuneration to the Executive Director and wife of Maran Kavery Kalanithi, was also Rs 13.1 crore and perquisites and other allowances were Rs 46.7 crore (Rs 467 million). Total salary and perquisites and other allowances for these two stood at Rs 119.6 crore (Rs 1.19 billion) in 2013-14 to the couple.

In 2012-13, both husband and wife, took Rs 112.4 crore (Rs 1.12 billion), including Rs 13.4 crore (Rs 134 million) of salary and perquisites and other allowances of Rs 42.8 crore (Rs 428 million) each.

Kalanithi Maran receives the award for Outstanding Businessman in Entertainment and Information Sector in 2004 from Narayana Murthy. Photograph: Courtesy, Sun TV Network

A year before both the couple took of Rs 114 crore, including Rs 10.8 crore (Rs 108 million) of salary and Rs 46.1 crore (Rs 461 million) and perquisites and other allowances each.

According to Forbes magazine, the 49 year old Kalanithi Maran's net worth is around $2.3 billion as of today and is ranked as 23rd richest person in India.

Maran's Sun Group has business interests in the regional television market, with powerpacked with 33 TV Channels, across four regional languages, with the reach of more than 95 million households in India.

This makes the Group has the largest chain of TV channels in India. Market capitlisation of Sun TV, one of the largest broadcasters in the country, was Rs 13,790.99 crore, according to Bombay Stock Exchange.

Sun Group's other business interests include DTH, 45 FM radio stations, two daily newspapers and six magazines. Last year he acquired Hyderabad's IPL franchise and named it as Sun Risers. The Group also owns major share in low cost airlines SpiceJet.

Take a look at India’s highest paid CEOs…