Bollywood faces a financial challenge that threatens to inflate budgets and hinder profitability: the rising cost of actor entourage. This issue has come under renewed scrutiny following big-budget flops like Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan and Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Actresses like Janhvi Kapoor, daughter of veteran producer Boney Kapoor, are caught in the middle, balancing empathy for their teams with understanding the financial strain on filmmakers.
Janhvi Kapoor, promoting her upcoming film Mr & Mrs Mahi, recently shared her perspective on the rising overhead costs. Acknowledging her producer lineage, she revealed to Indian Express, “I do think about the costs… I know the kind of burden and pressure all these monetary things can put on a producer.”
However, Kapoor also emphasized the value of an actor’s team, stating, “I’m very protective of my team and I’d like to protect their rights.”
In the same interview, Kapoor suggested a collaborative approach, believing “a good production team will always take care of an actor’s team if the film demands that kind of entourage.” She further argues that not everyone on an actor’s crew is solely motivated by money, stating, “Sab log yahan sirf paiso ke liye kaam nahin kar rahe, kaam ke liye bhi kaam kar rahe hai (Not everyone here is just working for the money, they’re also working for the love of the craft).”
A report by Indian Express shed light on the “menace” of entourage costs. The price for an entourage varies, but estimates include spot boys charging Rs. 25,000 per day, personal security costing Rs. 15,000 per person daily, and stylists commanding up to Rs. 1 lakh. These expenses can quickly snowball – the overhead cost for a single star can reach Rs. 20-22 lakh per day, translating to an additional Rs. 15-20 crore for a 70-day shoot.
Meanwhile, Mr & Mrs Mahi will be released in theatres on May 31. Directed by Sharan Sharma, the film also stars Rajkummar Rao.
