Director Akashdeep Sabir and his wife Sheeba recently sparked controversy with comments made about Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan during an interview with Lehren Retro. Their remarks, delivered with a mix of humor and pointed criticism, centered around pay parity in the film industry and security concerns following a recent incident involving Saif.
Akashdeep began by discussing the economics of film production, using the example of "Pushpa 2" to illustrate his point. He argued that Allu Arjun’s higher compensation compared to Rashmika Mandanna was justified by his greater box office draw. This segued into his critique of Kareena Kapoor's salary.
“This is why Kareena, with a price tag (fee) of Rs 21 crore couldn’t afford a watchman outside her house,” Akashdeep stated. He continued, “When you will pay them Rs 100 crore, maybe then they can afford security or a driver at night.” He then mockingly added, “Auto!”
Akashdeep emphasized his long-standing acquaintance with Kareena, recalling her childhood. “When I met her, Kareena was a bachchi (a child). I fought on TV debates to support Saif and Kareena. I directed and produced Karishma, which was Karisma Kapoor’s debut on Sahara. Kareena wasn’t an actress, she was a baby then.”
He then shifted his focus to a past incident involving Saif Ali Khan, referencing a stabbing incident.
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“Dignified and very distinguished couple, but I had no answer for two things in the debate when they used to ask me ‘Why was there no security guard outside the house…’ It might be a safe building with 30 CCTVs but how will a CCTV bring a hand out and stop the robber? It can only help you solve the crime, not stop the crime.” He also questioned why the couple didn't have a full-time driver at night.
Sheeba, Akashdeep’s wife, offered a possible explanation, saying, “Most Mumbai houses don’t have the space for staff overnight.”
Akashdeep then seemed to soften his stance, suggesting that the couple had been through enough. “They have been through a lot, I think we should let them recover. The media is making an issue out of nothing.”
The context for these remarks stems from a recent incident where Saif Ali Khan reportedly underwent surgery after sustaining injuries during a robbery attempt at his Mumbai residence. The incident, which shocked many, reportedly involved a Bangladeshi man. While many celebrities offered support to the couple, Akashdeep's comments took a different tack, raising questions about their security arrangements and linking it to the ongoing discussion about pay disparity in Bollywood.
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