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In recent months, the conversation around the exorbitant fees charged by Bollywood stars and the increasing costs of their entourages has gained significant momentum. Filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar have openly expressed their concerns, highlighting the impact these high fees have on the quality and feasibility of filmmaking with filmmakers struggling to recover the amount. Veteran actor and producer Anil Kapoor, who turned host for the third season of Bigg Boss OTT, has now joined the discussion.
Anil, known for his versatility and longevity in the industry with a career spanning over four decades, has seen the highs and lows both as an actor and producer. He recently spoke to Indianexpress.com and shared his thoughts on how the high fees demanded by stars disrupt the balance of film budgets and affect a filmmaker’s vision. “This is a very important conversation,” Anil emphasised, adding, “All actors, actresses, and technicians, especially the stars need to be more realistic in charging their fees and demands so that filmmakers can make more films.”
Anil Kapoor at the Bigg Boss OTT 3 press conference (Photo: Jio Cinema / Instagram)
At a recent event, Karan Johar highlighted that the rising entourage costs aren’t the biggest worry for producers but is the exorbitant fees of movie stars that is worrisome. Reflecting on his personal experiences and industry observations, the Slumdog Millionaire actor echoed Karan’s sentiments about the prohibitive costs. He shares, “I heard what Karan Johar said about the exorbitant fees that actors are charging these days and I completely agree with him. My father, who was a producer, my family, and I have gone through tough times trying to make good films. We tried to put in our money, but the star fees and entourage costs were so high that it became almost impossible to fund the kind of quality films we wanted to make.”
Anil’s father, Surinder Kapoor, was a producer and director who also served as the president of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India and made films like Shehzada, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, Hum Paanch, Woh Saat Din, Loafer, Judaai, and Sirf Tum among others. Anil, who turned producer with Badhai Ho Badhai, later went on to bankroll Gandhi My Father, Aisha, Veere Di Wedding, and Khubsoorat, among others, reveals he felt the financial pinch acutely. “It disturbs the budget significantly,” he noted. “I have gone through this as a producer, and it really pinches.”
Shekhar Kapur’s Mr India is among Anil Kapoor’s most successful films (Express Archive Photo)
Recently, Kartik Aaryan also weighed in on the ongoing debate on rising costs of stars and highlighted the need for fairness in business. He told Film Companion, “I don’t work with the mindset ‘saari duniya mein kuch ho, main toh kamaunga’ (whatever happens to the rest, I must earn). It can’t be like I’m the only one who’s earning. Main hamesha apni fee kam karne ko ready rehta hoon (I am always ready to reduce my fee).”
The Beta actor said he is ready to take a pay cut in order to help filmmakers make meaningful films. “I have always been willing to take a pay cut. Forget pay cuts; I have done films for free. There have been situations where I have not charged a single rupee to support the makers. I don’t want to name them. There are quite a few actors from my generation and the generations before me who have taken pay cuts and done films for free.”
Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff in a still from Yudh. (Express Archive photo)
He adds that most of his films which have stood the test of time are the ones where he chose to reduce his fee. “I have managed to stay in the industry for so long because I was willing to compromise on money. It was because of this that these films could be made. Almost 50-55 films in my career have withstood the test of time and brought success not just to me, but also to the makers and people associated with them,” he tells us.
Anil’s brother and producer, Boney Kapoor, has collaborated with the 67-year-old on several films, including No Entry, however, when he decided to make a remake of the 2005 comedy film, he didn’t cast his brother who featured in the original. Following the announcement, Boney in an interview said that Anil was upset about not being cast in No Entry 2. Speaking about the same, Anil clarifies, “Boney Kapoor made a statement that I was upset for not being cast in No Entry 2. Immediately after that, he clarified that it was said in a joke. I didn’t react or say anything. I am the kind of person who, regardless of what is said or written about me, I don’t take it seriously. I just go ahead and do the next film. There were times when things were written about films and individuals and then there were counter statements and explanations. I didn’t react. I keep my head down and focus on my work. It is between, you know [brothers]. It’s too small a thing for me to discuss.”
Boney Kapoor, Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Satish Kaushik on the sets of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. (Photo: Instagram/boney.kapoor)
In another interview, when asked if he was still upset with Boney, he reacted, “ghar ki baat hai.” “Ghar ki baat hai, ghar mein rehne do. Use kya discuss karna (It’s a personal matter, why should we discuss it)? Haan toh koi nahi. Aage badho (It’s okay. We should move on). Dekho ghar ki baat ko kya discuss karna (Look, what is there to discuss about family matters). And, he (Boney) is never wrong,” he told DNA.
Anil was last seen in Animal and Fighter and is gearing up for the Amazon Prime Video film Subedaar, where he will be seen playing Subedaar Arjun Singh.
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