There’s a lot of debate in the industry around the rising entourage costs of stars and how that burdens the producers, thus adding to the overall budget of the film. This is especially worrisome when after Covid 19, movies are not doing that well at the box office and are struggling to recover their costs. In recent interview, Aamir spoke about it as he’s a producer and a star both. He pointed out that producers should just pay for what is needed for their film and nothing more. He revealed that earlier there was a trend in the industry where producers started paying for drivers. “I found it strange. Main khuddar hu. Ab kya mere bacchon ke school fees bhi denge kya?”He said during a chat with trade expert Komal Nahta on his show ‘Game Changers’. “Stars should get recognition, but not to a point where they start to trouble the producers.” He said, “I hear that stars of today also don’t care to pay their drivers. They ask their producers to pay them. Not just that, but the producer is also paying for the actor’s spot boy. They don’t stop here. They make the producer pay for their trainers, cooks. I have heard that now they keep live-kitchen on set and expect the producer to pay for it. They even demand multiple vanity vans for kitchens and gyms.”He added, “I believe producers should only spend on what is genuinely required for the film. This includes makeup, hair, costume. But paying for my personal driver or help, how are they contributing to the film? They are working for me. It is my responsibility to pay them, especially when I am earning well. From day one, I was very clear that no producer of mine will pay for my driver or help. It’s been 37 years now.”The actor added that since stars earn in crores, they can pay for their own staff. He revealed he has nothing against the stars but it’s adding to the producer’s struggle and eventually burdening the industry. He said, “These stars are earning in crores and yet not capable of paying for their needs? Itni khuddari nahi hai? I find this extremely strange. It is very sad and harmful for the industry. I am saying it strongly that it’s a shame that even today there are actors who are being very unfair to their producers and their films.”Aamir gave an example for a film like ‘Dangal’ where producers covered the costs of wrestling coaches for the actors. That’s the requirement for the film. But otherwise, the personal costs of actors is a burden to the film. He said, “It’s very harmful for the indsutry. Soon, these actors will expect the producer to pay for their new flat. I find that odd. I’m saying it’s strongly, it’s a shame.”The ‘Lagaan’ actor said that he pays for things from his own pocket. He said, “Even today, when I take my family for an outdoor shoot. I always pay from my pocket. I never have expected any of my producers to bear that extra cost. Stars today are taking disadvantage of their status. Their demands only project them in the wrong light.”
