Aamir Khan recently spoke out against the growing trend in Bollywood where actors expect producers to cover personal costs that have nothing to do with filmmaking.
During an interview with Komal Nahta, Aamir emphasised that nowadays, actors expect the producers to pay for their cooks, trainers, drivers, and live kitchens on sets as well.
The actor-producer revealed that this indeed puts extra financial constraints on the producers and calls these demands 'unfair'.
Aamir further said that actors should take responsibility for their own expenses on film sets. He then shared that he has always paid for the expenses of his family while filming outdoors.
Speaking about the same, he said, "I hear that actors of today also don’t care to pay their drivers. They ask their producers to pay them. Not just that, but the producer is also paying for the actor’s spot boy. They don’t stop here. They make the producer pay for their trainers, cooks. I have heard that now they keep a live kitchen on set and expect the producer to pay for it. They even demand multiple vanity vans for kitchens and gyms."
Emphasising the strain put on producers, he further stated, "These actors are earning in crores and yet not capable of paying for their needs? I find this extremely strange. It is very sad and harmful for the industry. I am saying it strongly that it’s a shame that, even today, there are actors who are being very unfair to their producers and their films."
Aamir then claimed that he always thought it was strange and that the producer shouldn't be responsible for the staff's expenses because they work for the actor. Enquiring as to where such responsibilities would end, he added that if producers began paying for personal staff, it might set an unreasonable precedent. "If the producer is paying my personal staff, does that mean he will also start paying for my kids’ school fees? Where will this stop?" wondered the actor.
Putting his point forward, Aamir remarked that producers should cover only aspects necessary for the filming including hair, costumes, and makeup.
"But paying for my personal driver or help, how are they contributing to the film? They are working for me. It is my responsibility to pay them, especially when I am earning well... "Soon, these actors will expect the producer to pay for their new flat. This sounds extremely odd," Aamir added.
On the work front, Aamir Khan was recently seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, which he produced. He was also seen in a special cameo in Rajnikanth starrer Tamil film Coolie.
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