Ex-SRK Bodyguard Yaseen Khan Debunks Viral Crore Salary Claims as "Misleading"
Amid widespread social media speculation about celebrity bodyguards allegedly earning crores annually, former Shah Rukh Khan security aide Yaseen Khan has stepped forward to set the record straight, calling such claims far removed from reality. The industry veteran provided exclusive insights into the actual payment structures within Bollywood's security sector while tracing how compensation practices have evolved over decades.
Social Media Figures Called "Exaggerated" and "Wrong Message"
Reacting specifically to viral posts suggesting bodyguards earn between Rs 2 to 2.5 crore per year, Yaseen Khan dismissed these numbers as largely exaggerated. "I feel social media spreads the wrong message. It's not like people earn Rs 2-2.5 crore," he stated emphatically during his interview. "If someone is a bodyguard for a big star, they have a fixed salary. Apart from that, whenever a film is being made, a separate contract is drawn up. Depending on the producer, they are paid a certain amount for that film."
Revealing Early Industry Practices: "We Were Working, But Not Getting Paid"
Sharing insights from his formative years in the industry, Yaseen painted a stark picture of how bodyguards were once systematically excluded from project-based payments. "As far as I remember, earlier in the film industry, bodyguards weren't paid," he recalled. "There were rules that only the driver, makeup man and spot boy were paid by the producer. When I started working with Shah Rukh bhai, I felt that we are also working. A film is being made, we are doing our job too. We were getting a salary, but only enough to survive."
How Yaseen Khan Initiated Industry-Wide Change
The security professional revealed that he personally took the initiative to address this payment disparity, eventually catalyzing broader industry transformation. "I approached producers and said that just like others have contracts, we should also be paid," Yaseen explained. "There was no rule, but because of understanding and close relationships, they started giving an amount for films and ads."
This individual effort created a ripple effect across Bollywood. "When I started getting paid, others in the industry said that Shah Rukh bhai's bodyguard is getting paid, so we should too. They also approached producers, and gradually it became a trend. Now, most bodyguards working with celebrities get paid this way."
Seeking Gauri Khan's Approval First
Before approaching producers, Yaseen demonstrated professional courtesy by first discussing the matter with Gauri Khan. "I spoke to Gauri ma'am and told her that my colleagues get paid during shoots, so I should too," he shared. "She said, 'Okay, you can also take it.' Once I got permission from the family, things slowly started falling into place with producers."
Questioning High Monthly Salary Reports
Yaseen also expressed skepticism about reports suggesting bodyguards earn between Rs 8 to 10 lakh per month. "I don't think they earn that kind of amount yearly," he stated. "If a celebrity personally pays them based on mutual understanding, that's different. But salaries are not that high. Who is paying Rs 8-10 lakh per month?"
From SRK's Trusted Aide to Security Firm Owner
Yaseen Khan served as Shah Rukh Khan's personal bodyguard for over a decade before launching his own security venture, YK PROSEC, in 2015. The Mumbai-based firm has since grown significantly, now handling VIP protection and event security for high-profile clients including cricket legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
His journey from personal security to entrepreneurship underscores the professionalization occurring within India's celebrity protection industry, even as payment structures remain more modest than social media speculation suggests.
