Veteran filmmaker Anil Sharma, currently basking in the one-year success of his film ‘Gadar 2’, recently shared his perspective on the growing debate over rising entourage costs in the film industry. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Sharma highlighted his concern that the increasing expenditure on entourages could instead be allocated to enhance the quality of the film itself. His comments come on the heels of actor Manoj Bajpayee’s remarks to News18, where Bajpayee described the issue as a double-edged sword.
Responding to the ongoing discussion, Anil Sharma was candid in his remarks, questioning the claims of large openings driven solely by star power. He remarked, “Kahan mil raha hai? kisko mil raha hai? 2-2 crore ki opening ho rahi hai bade bade staron ki. Kisko mil raha hai? Face value pe aadha bhi nai aa rahi, picture mein content hai koi, vo picture chal rahi hai(Who is actually getting such openings? Even top stars are seeing openings of just Rs. 2 crores. Who is benefiting from this? Half of the so-called face value isn’t even translating at the box office. It’s content-driven films that are really succeeding).”
For the unversed, Bajpayee noted during an interview with us, that films are often budgeted with a star’s market value in mind, acknowledging that while their fees may include additional perks, it’s unrealistic to expect them to lower their rates.
Anil Sharma further elaborated on his perspective by pointing to the box-office performance of last year’s films, which saw openings ranging from Rs. 2.5 crore to Rs. 4 crore. He noted that these figures are comparable to the hefty fees spent on the entourages of today’s stars. Sharma suggested that if actors desire such extensive facilities, they should cover these costs from their own substantial earnings, much like the stars of previous generations did.
Anil Sharma passionately addressed the issue, urging that the financial burden shouldn’t be placed on producers but rather focused on what truly enhances the final product—the film itself. “Producer pe aap vajan mat daliye, aap vazan vahan daaliye jo parde pe dikhta hai (Don’t pressurize the producer; concentrate on what will be seen on the screen),” he advised.
The ‘Gadar 2’director emphasized that producers should be responsible only for ensuring the essential needs of the actors, not for excessive demands.
Sharma questioned the necessity of large entourages, saying, “Aapko kyun 12 log hi chahiye. Agar 12 log chahiye to aap apne paison se laao…aapke naam pe koi aadmi ghusta nai hai fir bhi aapko sab cheez chahiye (Why do you need 12 people? If you want 12 people, then bring them at your own expense. Nobody goes to the theaters to watch the film for your namesake, yet you want everything),” He went on to assert that, beyond a select few—perhaps four to six actors—most are not “deserving” or capable of significantly influencing box-office outcomes with their name alone.
Amid the financial pressures facing the film industry, top producers are voicing their concerns over the soaring fees and extensive entourage demands of major stars, which are driving up production costs to unsustainable levels. Esteemed filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar have previously pointed out that the escalating fees commanded by stars are placing a considerable strain on movie budgets, making it increasingly challenging to produce films without compromising on quality. The issue has sparked a broader debate about the balance between star power and the financial realities of filmmaking in today’s industry.
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