At present Bollywood fees, the focus is on the exorbitant entourage costs of actors and their extravagant demands—ranging from having a burger delivered in the middle of a jungle to insisting on their entire family accompanying them on international schedules and staying in luxurious villas.
After overcoming various hurdles in the movie-making process, a Bollywood producer gears up for the final stage of film release—the promotions. Their star has agreed to a day-long media marathon, with the understanding that the producer will cover the expenses for the star’s staff as per the contract. With a significant investment riding on the film’s success, the producer is under immense pressure. However, at the end of the day, the star’s stylist presents a bill of Rs 2 lakhs—twice the agreed-upon amount—to the producer. The reason? A simple change of outfits by the star.
“Because the star changed into two outfits, the charge doubled to Rs 1 lakh per day! Sometimes, all a producer can hope for is to keep these additional costs in check,” revealed an industry insider.
There is a growing call for a thorough re-evaluation of the industry’s functioning, with blame being attributed to various aspects of movie-making. Producers have been criticized for setting a concerning precedent by offering buy-one-get-one ticket schemes to the audience, as well as for fostering and empowering paid trade influencers, which has cast a significant shadow of doubt on the industry’s credibility.
How overhead costs of stars run into crores
In numerous industry insiders to uncover the behind-the-scenes developments and their impact on the filmmaking and release processes. “It’s utter chaos, and it’s a topic everyone is discussing in hushed tones. Producers are reaching out to their trusted confidants to share their frustrations. There’s trouble brewing in paradise,” revealed a source.
The issue of star fees and the necessity of regulating them has long been a contentious one, garnering widespread attention. A 2022 report delved into the restructuring of star fees following the pandemic-induced upheavals. However, as things returned to normalcy, so did the old practices. When a star signs on for a film, they do so for a specified fee, which does not include the expenses for their entourage. These additional costs, known as overhead costs, are entirely borne by the producer and encompass hair and makeup artists, stylists, spot boys, managers, and sometimes even bouncers.
How star management agencies add to the cost
In the past, when a producer or director approached an actor for a suitable script, negotiations typically revolved around the actor’s fee, agreed upon after discussions. However, nowadays, there’s an additional element: the involvement of the actor’s management agency.
“Even if the actor has a rapport with the filmmakers, they often engage their agency for negotiations. The agency tends to negotiate higher rates than the market value to account for their cut. For instance, if an actor’s market value is Rs 25 crore, the agency may quote Rs 30 crore to the producer. Thus, the overhead costs begin at the negotiation stage, even before filming commences,” explained a source. The source added that it’s reasonable for the management agency to take a cut only when they secure the project for the actor, not the other way around.
In the past, stars typically covered the costs of their entourage themselves. So, regardless of their fees, they would allocate a percentage to their talent and staff. Nowadays, if a star quotes Rs 25 crore, that amount is exclusively for them, with additional costs for their staff being separate.
Rs 25,000 per day for a spot boy, multiple vanity vans and food trucks
The cost breakdown for a star’s entourage varies, but typically, a spot boy charges around Rs 25,000 per day, personal security costs Rs 15,000 per head per day, and a stylist can charge up to Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, there are external expenses to consider, such as multiple vanity vans, food trucks, and personal chefs.
“Producers usually provide one vanity van to actors, but some now demand multiple vans, citing examples like Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. However, this comparison is unfair as it directly pits newcomers against seasoned veterans who have established themselves in the industry over decades,” shared a source.
The trend of demanding multiple vanity vans is not limited to male stars; even up-and-coming female stars, with no significant box office successes to their credit, are making similar demands. While such requests can be made, industry insiders point out that the financial feasibility often doesn’t add up.
Overhead cost of a star can be Rs 20-22 lakh per day
“The vanity alone costs Rs 50,000 per day. This includes expenses for a generator and a driver. Nowadays, actors also demand food trucks with designated chefs, further adding to the producers’ expenses. The total overhead cost of a star amounts to Rs 20-22 lakhs per day. For a film shot over 70 days, the overhead cost for just the male and female leads could range from Rs 15-20 crore, which often does not translate to visible improvements on screen,” the source revealed.
A producer pointed out that the financial equation doesn’t balance out when examining the returns. If a star is signed for Rs 25 crore, and an additional Rs 15 crore is spent on entourage costs, the total expenditure reaches Rs 40 crore just for this aspect. To recoup the additional Rs 15 crore, the film would need to open with a box office collection exceeding Rs 25 crore and then further multiply its profits as the weekend progresses.
The rising star fees
According to an industry insider, the escalating expenses, combined with already hefty star fees, are the primary factors leading to the shelving of films. In a person disclosed that Akshay Kumar commanded a fee exceeding Rs 100 crore for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, while Tiger Shroff demanded Rs 35-40 crore. However, despite the film’s business reaching only Rs 60 crore, Nahta questioned the justification for such exorbitant fees.
“Akshay Kumar charges over Rs 100 crore, yet the entire revenue from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan amounted to only Rs 60 crore. So, what warrants the Rs 100 crore fee? Similarly, Tiger Shroff demanded Rs 35-40 crore. For what?!” exclaimed Nahta.
While younger stars face criticism internally for their entourage costs, industry sources suggest that A-list actors are exempt from such scrutiny. If they engage in profit-sharing arrangements, the production assumes responsibility for the entourage costs, and the actors work without upfront fees. “It’s the actors below this tier who are causing headaches for producers; some of their demands are simply unreasonable,” asserted a source.
The tales of actors making extravagant demands on set seem never-ending. From requesting burgers in the midst of a jungle to, as one star allegedly did, arranging for their driver to meet them in the city they are flying to because they insist on traveling only in their own car, these anecdotes often become amusing footnotes in the industry gossip.
However, what truly becomes a crisis is when such demands come at the expense of the producer’s finances. An anonymous producer shared a harrowing experience where a star insisted on having their entire family accompany them for a film shoot in the UK. Despite the additional costs involved, the producer arranged for a lavish villa to accommodate the family’s stay. Yet, upon arrival, the absence of a tea pot in the mansion led to a heated confrontation, illustrating the frivolity of the situation.
Furthermore, the same star demanded exclusive use of a chartered plane for travel, disregarding the impact on the film’s budget. Such demands, while within the star’s rights, inevitably burden the project as a whole. For instance, some actors now demand their own security on set, insisting on personal guards at significant expense to the production.
Another concerning trend involves stars requesting multiple hotel suites during outdoor shoots—one for themselves, another for their staff, and a third for getting ready. Meanwhile, producers may opt for more modest accommodations to economize, while the stars and their entourage luxuriate in lavish surroundings. Additionally, some stars conduct meetings in hotel suites during outdoor shoots for other projects, with the costs of food and beverages charged to the current film’s production.
What’s Future?
Several industry leaders, have indicated that concrete measures are underway to manage overhead costs efficiently, ensuring a smooth experience for all involved. While some attribute the rise of management agencies as the primary cause, others argue that these agencies merely cater to the demands of the stars.
“The role of agencies cannot be ignored. It has evolved into a kind of monopoly where they also control the hairstyling and makeup aspects. In the event of any issues, such as dissatisfaction with hairstyling or makeup, the manager may deflect responsibility, stating that they were not responsible for arranging it. Consequently, actors end up relying entirely on these agencies for all aspects. However, is this a prudent approach? It is time for the industry to take a decisive stance,” concluded the insider.