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As the debate around the entourage cost of actors has gained pace in the Hindi film industry, veteran star Saurabh Shukla also added his two cents on the issue. The actor took the example of the late legendary actor Amrish Puri and shared how he travelled only with one make-up man and drove his own car, spending almost negligible amounts on entourage costs.
Speaking to ANI, Saurabh recalled working with Amrish in the 2001 blockbuster Nayak: The Real Hero. Saurabh admitted that Amrish was exactly the opposite of his idea of a star. He shared, “At that time, it was enough for me that I was cast in a film. It was a big film and with a big cast — Anil Kapoor, Amrish Puri. It was a good experience. We enjoyed a lot working on the film. It was also the first time I met Amrish Puri sahab. I met him at a time in my life when I would look at stars from a distance, and what we understood from being a star was that they carry an entourage with them.”
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Talking about Amrish’s approach to work and cost-saving, he said, “But on the set of the film, I got to know… by the way, Amrish Puri used to charge one rupee more than the lead actor in his films. This shows he was such a big star but he didn’t have a secretary and he didn’t have a driver. He had just a make-up man, that’s all. I asked him, ‘Don’t you have a staff?’ He responded, ‘Main pagal hoon kya? Paise main kamao aur banta rahoon staff mein (Am I mad that I earn all my money and distribute it to the staff). That is the reason I have come to this interview driving my own car, and I don’t go with an entourage.'”
In an earlier interaction with Komal Nahta, Karan Johar spoke about the rising entourage costs. “I can’t tell you the cost they charge for hair and makeup. I would like Roohi and Yash to become hair and makeup artists because they are making more money than a lot of other people. If they take that up, it’ll be very beneficial for them,” he said.
While acknowledging that entourage expenses form a relatively small portion of the overall budget, Johar said the issue is more ethical than financial. He said, “I have an ethical problem with entourages, not a financial one. We set a fixed budget for such needs. But if an actor wants anything beyond that, be it a personal trainer or specific dietary requirements, they should cover the cost themselves. I will pay for it only when it’s essential for the film, like in a sports drama requiring a certain physique. But if you are a regular hero, then your job is to look good, and look fit, you are an artist. If you want to eat healthy food, please go ahead, but why should I pay for that?”
