Nikhil Dwivedi requests actors to rethink entourage costs: 'The problem arises when they refuse to understand'

Nikhil Dwivedi is an actor and a producer

Actor-turned-producer Nikhil Dwivedi is among the prominent names in Indian cinema and is known for backing compelling stories. He has recently addressed the growing debate on actors' entourages and the extra expenses they incur for producers.

In a recent interview, Nikhil clarified that the true issue is not the entourage costs. Instead, the larger concern lies in actors overlooking the fundamental principles of business, the arithmetic of filmmaking, and failing to see the bigger financial picture.

Nikhil elaborated on the same with an example. He said, “Let’s say that there’s an X price of an actor and the entourage cost is Y. In my mind, I’ll think the actor’s price is X + Y. What’s important is, am I getting enough recovery from that X + Y cost? If an actor is giving you more recovery than what they are making you spend, you can offer them the moon. It does not matter.”

He added. “The problem arises when they refuse to understand the basic principles of business and arithmetic. You can’t be compelling the producer to spend more on you than what you are giving back to the producer. That’s the problem. Let’s not oversimplify by saying it’s an entourage cost.”

Nikhil further noted, “Let me give a rough example. Let's say Salman Khan’s fees are Rs. 100 crores. If his entourage cost is Rs. 20 crores, I won’t see it as a separate cost. If his price is Rs. 120 crores but his recovery is Rs. 250 crores, I am fine. Even if the entourage cost is increased further by Rs. 10 crores, I won’t flinch as I am still getting Rs. 120 crores of recovery.”

“However, if an artist is charging Rs. 50 crores as his fees and Rs. 20 crores for his entourage, but his recovery is just Rs. 50 crores, that’s not feasible. In such a situation, one starts questioning the entourage cost and that is what’s happening,” he continued.

Nikhil further noted that what needed to be questioned was the overall price packaging, as one could not deliver a recovery of Rs. 70 crores and also charge the same amount. He explained that apart from this, there would also be filmmaking, distribution, release, advertising, and payments for HODs and artists.

He emphasised that actors needed to consider the entire package of the film they were a part of. He explained that if a film cost Rs. 150 crores, he asked whether everyone collectively was at least giving a recovery of 70–75% so that the producer could take a 25–30% risk. If the answer was no, then according to him, everyone collectively needed to start bringing prices down.

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However, he further suggested that they should realise that it would not just be the producer who would make a loss, but their film would also be termed a flop. He also questioned why anyone would want a flop film in their filmography, adding that a film was a hit only if it recovered money and made a profit. Nikhil hoped that actors would understand this aspect and take the entire business into account.

On the work front, Nikhil Dwivedi is currently gearing up for his upcoming production Bandar (Monkey in a Cage). The film is set to have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the film features Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra in lead roles.

Nikhil will next back the much-awaited project, the fantasy drama Naagin, starring Shraddha Kapoor.