Not About the Money

Take for instance, cinematographer Anil Mehta. Director Imtiaz Ali has maintained that Mehta, a veteran in the industry, was his biggest support during the making of Highway (2014). The cinematographer admits that he charged less than his regular fee as it was a film he was eager to support. “I was among the first few people Imtiaz shared the story with. The nature of the film was such that I insisted Imtiaz makes the film at a low budget,” says Mehta. Since the film was mostly shot on the road, he stripped his gear and crew as much as he could. “It gave the film a certain language and energy that was visible on screen,” Mehta says.

Working on a low budget, however, doesn’t imply that a technician can necessarily cut corners. Mehta couldn’t use the same approach as Highway’s in his latest, Homi Adajania’s Finding Fanny Fernandes. Here, he had to use the usual equipment but give more than the usual time to recce for locations to suit the film’s quirky space. Mehta and Adajania worked together towards finishing the shoot in Goa ahead of schedule despite the unexpected rains.

In the making of low-budget films, line producers have it the toughest. They are usually the ones who are answerable when a film overshoots its budget. While there are some, like Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, which has expertise in executing smaller films, there are others, like Ajay Rai of Jar Pictures, who deliver equally with both big and small-budget films. “We are sanctioned a certain amount and the rest is up to us, locations, shoot expenses and so on. If it’s a script we like, we don’t mind compromising on our own fees,” says Rai, who has line produced films such as Gangs of Wasseypur and Liar’s Dice (2014) among others.

Some crew members too slash their fees to back a script they like. For instance, Sreekar Prasad did so for Dedh Ishqiya (2014) and Dekh Tamasha Dekh (2014), Bobby Singh for Queen (2014), and Irshad Kamil for Highway. But they won’t compromise for everyone. Mehta says when he signed Highway, he told Ali to pay him whatever he feels is right. “I knew Imtiaz wouldn’t short-change me,” says Mehta. But Chhabra says that when big production houses complain about budgets, he refuses to take a pay cut.

Sound engineer Nakul Kamte says that very often, the stars’ personal staff gets paid more than technicians. Known for films such as Lagaan (2001), Don (2006), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and Harud (2010), Kamte also believes that each film has its own merits. While picking a film, it is important to understand if the gain is material or otherwise. “Perhaps, I deserved to earn a little more on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but the experience of working with actors such as Bill Nighy and Judi Dench made up for the money,” says Kamte.