Anurag Kashyap talks about the rising costs in Bollywood.
Anurag Kashyap called out producers and agencies who are the factors for escalating costs in Bollywood.
Anurag Kashyap blamed producers and agencies for actors’ unreasonable demands and surge in entourage cost. In a recent interview, Anurag said that the surge in cost was noted after the OTT uprising. He believes the cost rose after more agencies got involved in making a star a brand and as a result, stars and their entourage are paid more than the crew that actually sits down to make a film or a series.
“This environment has spoiled and I blame OTT surge for it. Everyone works and everyone should be paid accordingly. Actors who get paid more are those who deliver a good opening despite the film not being great. Look at Salman Khan, even his bad film gets a good opening. If you can record a good opening collection for a film then demand the money. That is not an issue,” Anurag told Bollywood Bubble.
He added that more than the actors, it is the producers who are to be blamed. “In order to run their house and company, producers prefer taking certain actors in a project, for which they even fulfill their demand. So there are two people to be blamed for ruining the environment — agents and producers. People who work in the BTL (below the line) such as assistants aur technicians, the maker negotiate and give lesser money. This paves the way for higher entourage cost,” the Bad Cop star explained.
He also noted that people who are involved in the hair and make-up of a star get paid anything between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1,50,000. Whereas, a cameraman gets paid lesser than that. “Cameraman se jyada paise wo aadmi leta hai jo paseena paunchta hai. Assistant jo sabse zyada kaam karta usko utna payment nahi milta. Aaj kal log 15 log ki team lekar aate hai jisme se 4 log toh aapke Instagram Reel bana rahe hote hai (Cameramen get paid lesser than the man who wipes an actor’s sweat on the sets. Assistants who work the hardest doesn’t get paid enough. Today, people move around with a team of 15 people, four of which are to make an Instagram Reel for the star),” the Gangs of Wasseypur director said.
The actor-director said these things happen only in India. International filmmakers will not tolerate such behaviour. “The blame on the rising cost also goes to agencies. These agencies who represent make-up artist, hair department and entourage, and they charge them as well. People need to call out agencies too. And I don’t take any bullshit from these agencies. The industry’s health is bad because of these people. It is time we fix this,” he concluded.
Anurag Kashyap will be seen in Bad Cop. Releasing on Disney+ Hotstar, the actor plays the villain in the series.
