Imran Khan Slams Bollywood's 'Foolish' Star Salaries That 'Handicap' Film Budgets
In a candid interview, actor Imran Khan has launched a scathing critique of the rising salaries and expenditures of Bollywood stars, arguing that inflated upfront fees are severely damaging film budgets and profitability. The actor, who recently made a comeback after a decade with Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos and is now producing his next project alongside Bhumi Pednekar, spoke with ETimes about the industry's financial challenges.
Star Salaries Exploiting the System
Imran Khan acknowledged that casting decisions based on an actor's box-office appeal are understandable, especially for high-budget projects. However, he expressed deep concern over how some stars are now exploiting the system. "I believe that increasingly we have reached a place where stars exploit the system," he said, referencing lessons from his uncle, Aamir Khan, and previous generations of actors who took personal responsibility for their films.
He elaborated on the financial strain caused by excessive upfront fees, using a hypothetical example: "If I have a sense that my film is going to cost 30 crores to make, that's your cost of production. And I say I will charge 40 crores. So now your film costs 70 crores—Rs 30 crore of which is the actual film and Rs 40 crore is my personal salary. What is now our route to profitability?" Imran emphasized that stars, who command such high salaries, should be willing to gamble on their films' success by taking less money upfront.
Praising Aamir Khan's Responsible Model
Imran Khan praised Aamir Khan's approach as a model of responsibility and faith in filmmaking. He noted that Aamir has consistently avoided taking his full value upfront, opting instead for backend deals that tie his earnings to a film's profits. "That is foolishness. You are handicapping your own film. You're exploiting your film and you are enriching yourself personally at the cost of the film," Imran said, criticizing actors who lack belief in their projects.
He added that this mindset reflects a lack of commitment: "Actors feel 'who knows what kind of garbage you're going to make. Give me my money, get out of my way. I got my money, now who cares about the film?'" Imran argued that leading actors, who are central to a film's funding, should have the financial security to bet on its quality and success.
Industry Trends and Broader Criticisms
Bollywood has faced increasing scrutiny for soaring star fees and lavish entourages, with producers often citing these as major budget pressures. Aamir Khan has also been vocal about these issues, criticizing actors who expect producers to cover personal expenses like staff, kitchens, trainers, and multiple vanity vans. In a discussion last year, he questioned: "Where are you spending all the money you are earning? It is extremely sad and harmful for the industry."
On a positive note, many top Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Hrithik Roshan, have reportedly adopted profit-sharing models. This approach involves taking lower upfront fees and earning more through backend profits, which helps control budgets. Director Anurag Kashyap has praised these stars as "the most cost-conscious persons in the industry," while producer Siddharth Roy Kapur confirmed the trend, explaining a two-part compensation model that makes budgets more manageable.
Imran Khan's comments highlight a growing debate in Bollywood about financial sustainability and ethical practices, urging stars to prioritize film success over personal gain.
