Bollywood’s perfectionist Aamir Khan has never been one to mince his words when it comes to the workings of the film industry. In a recent conversation with Komal Nahta on his show Game Changers, the actor openly criticised younger stars for making what he called “extremely shameful and harmful” demands from producers.
His remarks have reignited a debate that has long simmered in Bollywood—the growing culture of extravagance among actors and the burden it places on film budgets.
The Problem with Vanity and Entourages
Aamir Khan’s comments came at a time when several big-budget films have underperformed at the box office, sparking scrutiny of inflated production costs.
Reports suggested that a significant portion of these budgets is consumed not by production essentials but by stars’ “exorbitant fees” and lavish demands.
Multiple vanity vans, live-in kitchens on set, and an army of personal staff have now become common requests, and producers are footing the bill.
Personalities like Farah Khan, Rakesh Roshan, and Sanjay Gupta have already criticized this trend.
Now, Aamir has joined in, saying the practice shows a “lack of grace” and highlights how certain actors are unfair to their producers.
Aamir’s Take on Paying for Personal Staff
Recalling his early days in the industry, Aamir shared how he was shocked to learn that producers were expected to pay for actors’ drivers and personal helpers. “The driver and the help is working for me, why is the producer paying for it?” he said. Adding sarcasm to drive the point home, he remarked: “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?”
“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,” he explained.
Extravagant Demands: “Live Kitchens” and More
The actor expressed particular dismay at the current generation’s excessive expectations. “I hear that stars 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 live-kitchen on set and expect the producer to pay for it. They even demand multiple vanity vans for kitchens and gyms.”
Aamir Khan said the actors can afford their own lifestyles but choose to shift the burden onto already stretched film budgets.
“These stars 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,” he said.
A Call for Responsibility
He further said: “When you can afford a lifestyle for yourself, why are you putting that on a producer? Why should the producer give you six vans when all you need is one van for makeup?”
Aamir stressed that actors must see themselves as part of a larger team, not as individuals above the film itself. “As an actor, it is my duty to make sure that the production house is not burdened because of me. Every team player should think this. You are all working for the film, be a team.”
Aamir acknowledged that sometimes producers must bear training costs if they are directly required for the film. Using Dangal as an example, he explained: “I couldn’t expect my actors to know wrestling. I had to train them. I paid for the training. But, to make the producer pay for their cook… it makes no sense.”
He warned of the slippery slope such practices create: “Soon, these actors will expect the producer to pay for their new flat. This sounds extremely odd.”
To underline his point, Aamir Khan revealed that in his 37-year career, he has never made producers pay for his personal needs. “Even today, when I take my family for an outdoor shoot, I always pay from my pocket. I never have expected any of my producers to bear that extra cost.”
“Stars today are taking disadvantage of their status. Their demands only project them in the wrong light,” he concluded.
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