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Filmmaker Karan Johar has spoken often in recent years about male movie stars having an inflated sense of their own bankability, and demanding amounts that they don’t deserve, considering their track record. Saif Ali Khan joked that he should start a union to protest against Karan’s more recent declaration that he will no longer pay stars what they demand, unless he feels that the amount is justified. In an interview, Saif said that he has never belonged to the category of stars that demand exorbitant amounts, and described himself as ‘recession proof’.
Saif was asked about Karan’s recent comments in an interview with India Today, and he said with a laugh, “Karan wants to cut pay-cheques, I’m not sure if I should have my own union on that. I’m sure he’s right, but it makes me a little nervous when we talk about cutting pay-cheques. No cutting pay-cheques!” Karan’s argument is that most major stars these days cannot guarantee big openings; stars such as Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn have had films open to below Rs 5 crore in recent months. Karan had said that stars whom he approached for the film Kill were demanding as much as Rs 40 crore, when the entire film’s budget was that much.
Saif continued, “The economics of our business… Sometimes, you go to a star, and he says, ‘If you want me, this is how much it’s going to cost’, and people pay. When people pay, the economics does get skewed. Indians are businessmen, and the film industry is primarily a business. People take shots, people take punts, there are all kinds of things happening. Karan Johar knows best. Sorry, I was just joking. What he’s talking about is people charging astronomical money, and not delivering. This can’t last. We don’t charge that much, we’re recession proof.”
Saif Ali Khan with his mother, actor Sharmila Tagore. (Photo: Koffee with Karan S8/ Hotstar)
In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter India, Karan had said that he no longer bows down to stars’ demands, after he was scolded by Zoya Akhtar for having done so and skewed market dynamics. Karan said, “I don’t pay anymore. I’ve said, ‘Thank you very much, I can’t pay you’. I am not paying anyone. What were your last couple of films? How much have you opened to? What right do you have to ask me for this number? I produced a small film called Kill, I spent the money on it because it was a high-concept film with a rank newcomer. Every star that we went to asked me for the same money as the budget. When the budget is Rs 40 crore, how can you ask for Rs 40 crore? Are you guaranteeing me that the film will do Rs 120 crore? There’s no guarantee.”
Saif can currently be seen in the film Devara: Part I, starring Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles. The film was released in theatres across the world on Friday. Karan and Saif have worked together on the films Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kurbaan.
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