Bollywood actors demand vanity van for chef to make Rs 40,000 ka chicken salad, says Farah Khan: ‘Then they eat what I bring from home’

Farah then contrasted it with today’s production scale: “Now, people travel with at least 200 people. It looks like a fair. They walk like elephants. An actor’s entourage alone consists of at least 20 people.” Rakesh nodded in agreement: “Yes, I guess around 20–25.”

He went on to recall a surprising anecdote involving Simi Garewal: “I remember Simi once called me and said, ‘Guddu, I have restarted Rendezvous, and there’s this couple who have sent a list requesting nine vanity vans.’”

Farah, stunned, exclaimed, “Nine?” “Yes,” Rakesh confirmed, “Even I was shocked. I asked her again, ‘Nine?’ She said yes. I couldn’t sleep that night. I kept wondering, ‘Is Hrithik also making such demands?’”

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He continued, “First thing in the morning, I called his driver, Sushil, and asked, ‘How many vans do we have? At least 3–4?’ Sushil replied, ‘No, sir. Just one.’ That’s when I finally sighed in relief.”

Farah added a humorous memory of their Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai days: “Sir, we didn’t even have a vanity van during that film. The actors used to change behind bushes!”

Rakesh agreed, saying, “So far, in all the films I have made, there were no vanity vans.” He recalled working on Kaabil, his 2017 film, and being taken aback by the number of vans on set: “There were about 10–12 vans parked. I asked, ‘Why do we need so many vans?’ Shammi told me, ‘One is for the light master, one for the cameraman, one for the choreographer, two for the hero, one for the heroine…’ I was shocked. I thought, when do they even have time to use them?”

Farah chimed in with her current experience as a choreographer: “I swear, I tell them very clearly—don’t give me any van. I never leave the set. The only thing I ask for is a clean washroom. That’s it.”

Rakesh noted a tradition from their earlier days: “We all used to eat lunch together.”

Farah, however, pointed out that’s no longer common: “That’s just us, sir. Others have a separate van for their private chef, who makes a salad worth ₹40,000. It’s just boiled chicken and salad. And after all that, they still end up eating what I bring from home! They say, ‘Ma’am, what have you brought? Please share it with us.’ It’s really become tough now. Hats off to all the producers!”

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Expanding entourages have been a topic of concern

The soaring costs of star fees and their ever-expanding entourages have been a topic of concern within the film industry for some time now. Many insiders have pointed to increasing “star tantrums” and the growing trend of actors arriving on set with teams of at least 20 people—each member contributing to the financial burden on producers.

In a previous interview with Fardioon Shahryar on his YouTube channel, trade analyst Komal Nahta weighed in on the issue, saying, “Entourages don’t interfere with the script or the making of a film. But their downside lies in the cost they bring to producers and the irritation they cause on set. They may not ruin a good film, but they definitely waste money and disrupt smooth functioning.”

Nahta also recounted a revealing incident involving a major star who was scheduled for an appearance in Jodhpur. The actor showed up with a nine-member entourage, including a costume designer who charged ₹20,000 just to adjust the actor’s collar.

“That’s all she did, and the organiser had to pay her ₹20,000,” he recalled.

This isn’t an isolated case. An earlier SCREEN report detailed the startling breakdown of entourage-related expenses. According to the report, a star’s spot boy can charge as much as ₹25,000 per day, personal security guards receive ₹15,000 per head daily, and a stylist’s fee can reach up to ₹1 lakh per day.

Choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan has also voiced concerns over the excessive spending on entourages. In an interview with Twin Encounter last year, she said: “The change I’d like to see is in the entourage costs. It’s gotten out of hand. An actress arrives with nine people, an actor with eight—it’s a complete waste of resources. And this cost never reflects on screen. It’s something that really weighs heavily on the producer.”

In one of her YouTube vlogs, Farah further highlighted the growing obsession with vanity vans.

“Today, an actor won’t even begin shooting unless their vans arrive. Each actor demands around four vans—one for their gym, one for their staff, one for themselves, and sometimes more. Then there’s a separate food truck too.”

She contrasted this with earlier times, saying: “Back in the day, heroines would change behind trees—we would hold up towels for them. I have done that myself. During outdoor shoots, even in Switzerland, they would change behind a bus using bedsheets for cover. Now, actors refuse to step out unless their vans are parked.”

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