A long-simmering debate about the escalating costs of actor entourages and the financial strain they place on film producers has come to the forefront again. The issue was highlighted during a recent industry roundtable featuring prominent actors from across Indian cinema.
Stars Acknowledge a Systemic Problem
The discussion included actors Kriti Sanon, Vicky Kaushal, Ishaan Khatter, Dhruv Vikram, Rukmini Vasanth, Basil Joseph, and Kalyani Priyadarshan. While Kriti Sanon and Vicky Kaushal clarified they haven't personally witnessed extreme cases—like a single actor being assigned six vanity vans—they acknowledged the problem's existence. Ishaan Khatter pointedly noted that actors in the Hindi film industry are often excessively pampered, creating an unsustainable culture.
Sharing her pragmatic view, Kriti Sanon told The Hollywood Reporter that solving this requires a combined effort. "I don't know if actors can solve this, but it has to be a combination of like a certain entourage being there, producers being there and cutting out what is not needed, Everything that is luxury," she said. She gave the example of hiring a dietician for a role-specific transformation in 'Mimi' as a justified cost, but questioned the need for personal luxuries like a personal cook on set, suggesting those should be borne by the actor.
Dhruv Vikram's Reaction and a Hollywood Contrast
Dhruv Vikram initially expressed disbelief at the reports of excessive demands, stating he had never heard of such practices in the Tamil industry. However, when the specific example of six vanity vans for one person was mentioned, his reaction was strong. "Six vans for one person? That's ridiculous," the Tamil actor exclaimed. This highlighted a perceived difference in working cultures between regional industries and Bollywood.
Ishaan Khatter provided a stark contrast by sharing his experience working on the Hollywood series 'The Perfect Couple' with stars like Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber. He revealed there was no special treatment; he was given a house and a car and told to drive himself to set. "I was doing my laundry every day and I was cleaning and cooking for myself. I was doing the lines while driving to set," Khatter explained. He spent 3.5 months without a single team member from his usual entourage, illustrating a vastly different, more self-reliant work ethic.
Cultural Norms Versus Project Needs
Khatter further contextualized the issue, calling it a cultural phenomenon in India where having help is common and even creates jobs. However, he stressed the need for individual responsibility and project-specific requirements. "I think where the limit should be, it is like an individual question, it can't be the expectation that generally things happen this way. It also depends on what the project needs," he concluded. This roundtable conversation underscores a growing awareness within the film fraternity about the need for fiscal responsibility and a potential cultural shift away from normalized extravagance, putting the focus back on the project's genuine needs rather than star entitlements.
