Well-known Bollywood filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan, has voiced her concerns about the rising costs associated with stars' entourages, which she describes as a "waste of resources." According to Farah Khan, many actors come to the film set with a large team of up to nine people, which she believes is an unnecessary burden on producers.
Farah Khan is the latest celebrity to speak out about this issue, following actor Kriti Sanon, who also addressed the problem. Sanon highlighted that the increasing entourage costs are becoming a significant financial strain on the Hindi film industry. Farah Khan, who has been making films for over 20 years, explained that she has observed a trend where actors bring along large teams that do not contribute to the film's production. She mentioned that these entourages include various professionals whose roles do not impact what is ultimately seen on screen.
This practice, according to Farah Khan, is placing undue pressure on film budgets. The issue has gained renewed attention after the recent failures of high-budget films like Ajay Devgn’s 'Maidaan' and the Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff starrer 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'. These box office disappointments have led to a closer examination of the costs associated with making films, particularly the exorbitant fees charged by actors and the additional expenses of their entourages. In an interview with 'Twin Encounter', Farah discussed the changes she has witnessed in the Hindi film industry over the years. She acknowledged that while there have been positive developments, such as increased organization and proper contracts, there have also been negative changes.
One of the significant drawbacks, according to Farah Khan, is the shift from direct, personal relationships to a more bureaucratic system. She said, "The good change is that the industry is far more organized today, people come on time, there is a studio system in place, so all the contracts are proper, kisi ke paise koi khaa nahi sakta hai. The bad change is that, earlier, the industry would function on relationships. So, if I wanted something, I would directly call the actor. Now, I will have to meet the manager’s sub-manager, then the manager will meet, after that the agency will meet! It has all become very clinical. The inter-personal relations have been ruined because of this." Khan elaborated on the financial implications of the growing entourage culture.
The report detailed the average daily charges for entourage members: a spot boy charges Rs 25,000, personal security Rs 15,000, and a stylist can charge up to Rs 1 lakh. The overhead cost of a star's entourage can amount to Rs 20-22 lakhs per day, which for a film shot over 70 days, can add an additional Rs 15-20 crores to the budget. Farah Khan n emphasized the need to control these costs, stating, "The change I would like to bring about is that the entourage cost has become too much. An actress comes with nine people, an actor comes with eight people. That is a waste of resources. That cost is nowhere to be seen in the film! That needs to be controlled a bit. Woh producers pe bohot bhaari padta hai."
Actor Kriti Sanon also spoke about the entourage cost recently. In an interview with 'Film Companion', journalist Anupama Chopra mentioned how she observed the end credits slate of a "big film" this year, headlined by a "massive male star," which included three people cooking for him—two cooks and one chef—costs that were covered by the producer.
When asked how the industry could deal with these unnecessary expenses, especially now that Kriti Sanon is also a producer, she said, "I don’t know which film you are talking about, but whichever it is, those are too many cooks to begin with!"
Reflecting on her career, Farah Khan shared her journey from being a choreographer to a director. She made her directorial debut 20 years ago with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Main Hoon Na'. Before that, she was a choreographer and had started her career as an assistant director. Khan recalled her early days, "My job was also to dress people in their costume, so if there is a crowd of 100 people, I would have to do that as well. I started working in 1990 in 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar'"
Farah Khan also shared her experience of discovering Deepika Padukone, who made her screen debut with 'Om Shanti Om' opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She recounted getting a call from manager Reshma Shetty, who told her about a girl from Bangalore, Mr. Prakash Padukone's daughter, who was a model and wanted to meet the filmmaker. Khan said, "I had seen some ad of Deepika and I had felt that this girl should be a heroine! She came to meet me at my house, she was wearing a plain white kurta, she had no makeup and was looking beautiful! Back then, I told her I would cast her opposite Zayed Khan in 'Happy New Year' but if you are very good, I will cast you opposite Shah Rukh Khan."
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