As the release of Carry On Jatta 4 approaches, actor-producer Gippy Grewal has addressed a pressing issue in the film industry: the imbalance between soaring star fees and shrinking production budgets. Grewal argues that Indian cinema has developed an unsustainable budgeting model, where a disproportionate share of a film's budget goes to talent rather than production.
Global Comparison of Film Budgets
Drawing comparisons with international film industries, Grewal noted, 'In countries like Canada and Australia, the combined fees of the cast, director and writer account for about 21 per cent of a film's budget. The remaining 79 per cent goes into making the film. Here, it's often the opposite. Around 79 per cent is taken away by the team itself, leaving very little to make the film. Actors charge crores, and that's where the imbalance begins.'
Need for a Better Recovery Model
Rather than focusing solely on cost-cutting, Grewal believes the industry needs to improve its recovery model. 'If recovery becomes healthier, production values can improve significantly. At the end of the day, it's all mathematics,' he added.
Star Salaries and Market Realities
Addressing the debate around capping star salaries, Grewal pointed out that the market continues to reward actors despite repeated box-office failures. 'There are actors whose films haven't worked for years, yet they're still getting projects. I've even heard of actors whose films failed but who demanded higher fees afterward. Actors get paid regardless.'
Grewal advocates for a profit-sharing model as a sustainable alternative. 'Ideally, actors should say, 'Don't pay me upfront; give me a share of the profits if the film works.' That's a model I try to follow as well,' he shared.
