Filmmaker Rajiv Rai, known for “Gupt,” has sparked a conversation in Bollywood by blaming producers for the industry’s inflated actor fees.
Bollywood’s Big Fee Problem
The discussion around how much actors get paid is back in the spotlight in Bollywood. Many in the industry are worried about these ever-increasing salaries.
Rajiv Rai, a veteran director, believes producers are actually encouraging this trend. He shared his thoughts in a recent interview, pointing fingers directly at the production houses.
Producers Are to Blame, Says Rai
Rai argues that corporate production houses and producers have created a system where actors can ask for huge sums without much accountability. He states it’s simply a matter of demand and supply.
“An actor can even quote Rs 1,000 crore. Since there’s more money in the market now, everyone’s chasing glamour over substance,” Rai explained. He feels major studios often bet solely on a star’s popularity rather than the quality of the script.
Content Over Star Power
The filmmaker stressed that relying only on a star’s name won’t guarantee success. He believes audiences won’t simply show up for a film just because a famous actor is in it.
Rai highlighted that while fans might gather outside a star’s home, they won’t open their wallets unless the film’s content truly resonates with them. He emphasized that glamour alone doesn’t sell tickets.
The Box Office Formula for Fees
Rajiv Rai has a clear idea of how an actor’s salary should be determined. He insists that whatever he pays an actor, that amount must be recovered by the film within its first day of release.
Being generous, he might extend that grace period to three days. “If I’ve paid Rs 100 crore to an actor, then the film must make that back within three days of release. That’s when they truly deserve the money,” he stated.
Ahaan Panday’s Success as an Example
Rai even jokingly mentioned that if newcomer Ahaan Panday could generate Rs 100 crore in the opening days, he would deserve that fee. This highlights his principle: an actor’s value is directly tied to their immediate box office pull.
Ahaan Panday’s recent film, “Saiyaara,” co-starring Aneet Padda, has indeed shown impressive box office numbers. It earned Rs 21.5 crore on its first day, followed by Rs 26 crore on day two, and Rs 35.75 crore on day three, totaling Rs 83 crore in its opening weekend in India.
Globally, “Saiyaara” crossed the Rs 100 crore mark within three days and reached Rs 250 crore in India alone within ten days. This kind of rapid success aligns with Rai’s philosophy on justifying high actor salaries.
- Producers are responsible for inflated actor fees, according to Rajiv Rai.
- Studios often prioritize star power over strong scripts, which is a mistake.
- An actor’s fee should be directly recovered from the film’s box office within the first three days.
Rai’s insights underline a call for greater accountability and a shift back towards content-driven cinema in Bollywood.
