Stop Payment

However,Fernandez’s exception is set to become a norm as the Film and Television Producers Guild of India (FTPGI) has moved for passing an industry rule against that actors will have to pay for their personal staff.

The recently-introduced diktat is driven by the fact that producers end up footing large bills for not hair- and make-up artistes — who charge anything between Rs 20,00 to Rs 50,000 a day — but also for other staff members such as drivers,spot boys,personal assistants of various kinds and sometimes even gym trainers who join actors on outdoor shoots with Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 as their fee per day. For a movie shoot lasting 70-100 days,the producers often end up dishing out crores of rupees only on the personal staff.

High costs don’t worry Ramesh Taurani,producer of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and upcoming Race 2 as,much as the inconvenience caused each time a personal assistant negotiates his own fee with the production house. “Now,the actors will deal with them personally though we do expect the stars to hike up their fee in the process.”

The Guild was in talks with top-bracket stars such as Shah Rukh Khan,Akshay Kumar,Ajay Devgn,Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor,who have backed the move. “I don’t have a personal hair- and make-up artiste,but it is only fair that actors should pay for their personal staff,” says Abhishek Bachchan. However,some members of the industry believe that the move finds support in these actors because they have also forayed into production now.

Also ,several actors who do not belong to the A-list category,are not in favour of the move. “The decision is fair as far as top stars are concerned. But for actors like me–who are paid way less in comparison–cannot afford the fee of these assistants,” Fernandez says. But parity of treatment and attitude is exactly what this new rule will bring about.

The trend of an entourage accompanying stars is relatively new. During an earlier interview to the publication,veteran actress Neetu Kapoor spoke about how stars did not have vanity vans or stylists at their disposal in the 1970s. “We used to put a table on the road,placed a mirror on it and did our makeup ourselves,” she said. Even Juhi Chawla,who was among the top actresses in the 1980s and 1990s,would use the services of staff provided by producers. “It changed when the competition for the top slot became fierce. Now,top actors want to sport a different look in every film,” explains an associate close to Devgn. (I had incorrectly attributed it to Taurani earlier)

Today,these people are more than just assistant to actors. As good as family on film sets,especially on outdoor shoots,they become friends and confidantes of stars . “I have been working with Ajay Devgn since the 1990s. I know his likes,dislikes and how he functions. All that experience justifies what I demand,” points out the actor’s associate.

According to actor actor Sonu Sood,even though personal assistants are indispensable,the exorbitant fees that they demand are unjustified. He adds that last year the actors and their assistants were upset when a similar rule was introduced and that affected the industry’s functioings for nearly two months. “The guild later on drew up a pay chart that is based on the films’ budget.” Sood,however,believes that this move will now stop personal assistants from demanding exorbitant sums.

Veteran make-up artiste Anil Pemgirikar echoes Sood’s views. “Until a few years ago,production houses used to book make-up artistes and hair stylists for everyone and we would get paid on per day basis. But all that changed with the star system growing rapidly. Today,we earn Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 for working on the secondary staff. We hope the new move will bring about a balance between all artistes and there will be equal distribution of fees,” he says.