By Aarti Saxena
Even though the release of films resumed in full swing in 2021 and 2022 after the lockdown, the box office collections have remained disappointing. Barring a few exceptions, most films have failed to draw audiences to theaters. Despite this, many veteran producers have continued their efforts to revive the struggling film industry.
However, many highly anticipated films have still failed at the box office. By 2024, this trend has left most producers financially drained. It is fair to say that the entire film industry is going through a challenging phase. In such a situation, it has become increasingly important for Bollywood’s top stars to consider reducing their fees, as well as the salaries of their staff.
According to reports, some Bollywood actors have decided to cut their remuneration by up to 30%. Talks are underway with stars and studios to reduce the budgets of several upcoming projects. Additionally, some major actors have indicated that they plan to reduce their workload.
The Skyrocketing Fees of Stars and Film Budgets
Today, even though films like Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Crew—with budgets up to Rs 500 crore—have failed and left the film industry in financial trouble, the budgets of upcoming films continue to soar. For instance, the budget of Kalki 2898 AD is reportedly around Rs 600 crore, with Prabhas’ remuneration alone being approximately Rs 150 crore and Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan’s fees around Rs 20 crore each.
It’s also worth noting that Hrithik Roshan’s fee for the film Fighter was reportedly between Rs 75 to 100 crore. On top of that, lead actors often charge separately for expenses such as vanity vans, personal cooks, and chefs, which can cost producers an additional Rs 20 lakh per day. As a result, if a film’s budget is Rs 500 crore, these extra costs can push the total budget to around Rs 600 to 700 crore.
Moreover, the remuneration of bodyguards for lead actors in some films exceeds the fees of co-actors, forcing producers to meet these unreasonable demands, often at the industry’s expense. This practice needs to be curtailed for the industry’s survival.
Different Ways Heroes Collect Fees for Their Films
There was a time when an entire film could be made for Rs 35 to 40 crore. Today, however, the fee for an average hero is around Rs 35 to 40 crore. Given the high fees, producers often find it difficult to pay such large sums at once, leading actors to adopt various payment methods.
For example, Amitabh Bachchan either takes his fee in one lump sum or charges based on the time he spends on set, depending on the producer’s preference. For instance, he was reportedly paid around Rs 20 crore for Kalki 2898 AD.
Other major stars like Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, and Akshay Kumar often take their fees as producers by becoming partners in the film. Shahrukh Khan, for instance, produced the film Jawan. Similarly, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, and Aamir Khan also take their fees as producers. Additionally, some actors take one territory of the film’s distribution, such as Mumbai or Delhi, as their fee. Others, like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Kartik Aryan, receive their full payment via check, with fees ranging from Rs 40 crore to Rs 250 crore.
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