In January last year, Bollywood saw a significant boost at the box office with the release of 'Pathaan,' which grossed over 1000 crores. Following this success, several other films also became super hits, helping Bollywood recover from the box office failures of 2022. However, this year, the business of Hindi movies has slowed down again. One of the reasons cited for this downturn is the exorbitant remuneration of actors. Recently, industry figures like Anurag Kashyap and Nawazuddin Siddiqui have voiced their concerns about this issue.

In the Hindi film industry, many actors earn more than 100 crore rupees, with several stars commanding salaries between Rs 30 and Rs 50 crore. Analysts believe that these high salaries are significantly driving up production costs. Producers not only have to cover the hefty paychecks of these stars but also cater to their various demands and incidental expenses.

Director Anurag Kashyap, in an interview with Humans of Cinema, highlighted the financial strain caused by fulfilling the demands of stars. He noted, "As many vanity vans as I have seen in 'Sacred Games,' I have never seen so many vanity vans on my sets. That's how culture starts, then you can't do it any other way." Kashyap criticized the unnecessary extravagance on film sets, pointing out incidents where significant amounts of money were spent on trivial requests, such as fetching a special burger for a star from a hotel hours away from the shooting location.

Kashyap also blamed directors, producers, and assistants for fostering this culture of indulgence. He emphasized that he does not tolerate such practices on his film sets, expressing his frustration at the exorbitant fees charged by some professionals in the industry. "Some chefs charge 2 lakh rupees a day for the healthy food of the stars!" he exclaimed, comparing it to "bird food."

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui echoed Kashyap's sentiments, stating that the issue of unnecessary demands by actors has been a longstanding problem. He criticized actors who inflate production costs with their luxurious needs, such as requiring multiple vanity vans for various activities. Siddiqui called on his colleagues to reduce costs, suggesting that money should be invested in the film itself rather than in satisfying extravagant demands.

Kriti Sanon, who is venturing into film production with 'Do Patti,' also spoke on the issue, advising stars to be more mindful of expenses. She stressed the importance of prioritizing the story of the film over the demands of the actors. Sanon remarked, "There are certain things during the production of a film, where unnecessary expenses are very high. But in the end, the story of the film is the last word."

However, Anurag Kashyap acknowledged that some actors are more aware of cost reduction. He praised the three Khans—Aamir, Salman, and Shah Rukh—for their budget-friendly approach. According to Kashyap, these stars ensure that the film's budget does not escalate and create problems. They typically do not take their remuneration before the film's shooting and instead opt for a share of the profits, which alleviates financial pressure on producers during production.

The conversation around actor remuneration and production costs highlights a critical issue in Bollywood. As industry insiders call for more prudent financial practices, it remains to be seen whether the industry will adapt to ensure sustainable success at the box office.