Bollywood couple demands 11 vanity vans, separate kitchens, gyms; Amitabh Bachchan is only one who doesn’t, says Sanjay Gupta: ‘Ek mein saab nanga baithte hain’

Director Sanjay Gupta spoke about the increasing entourage costs in Bollywood, and said that only Amitabh Bachchan doesn't bill producers for his personal staff. Stars these days have six vanity vans, he said.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | September 11, 2025 11:52 AM IST

Sanjay Gupta spoke about the increasing entourage cost issue in Bollywood.

Director Sanjay Gupta spilled the tea on Bollywood’s escalating entourage costs issue, and said that certain stars these days demand as many as seven vanity vans. He proceeded to explain the purpose of each of these vans, and said that Amitabh Bachchan is the only movie star who still pays for his own staff, and doesn’t bill producers for them. He also praised stars such as Ajay Devgn, Hrithik Roshan and a few others for not having large entourages, which can have as many as 30 members these days.

Appearing on Cyrus Broacha’s podcast, Sanjay Gupta shared many anecdotes about the industry, where he has worked for 40 years. He began as an assistant in his teens, and made his directorial debut in 1994 with the film Aatish: Feel the Fire. “All the old-school guys, including Mr Bachchan, and Ajay Devgn and Hrithik Roshan, they only have one makeup guy and one spot boy. Producers complain about entourage costs, and rightfully so, and suddenly you’re paying lakhs,” he said, going on to explain the root of the issue.

Also read – As star fees, entourage costs skyrocket, Hindi film industry technicians, writers and actors ‘bleed’: Bollywood’s horror show

He said, “I know certain actors who have six makeup vans. It’s mandatory. The first van is his personal space. This is real; I’m very serious. Wahan saab nanga baithte hain (Sir sits naked in that van). Then, next to that is saab’s other van, wahan pe saab makeup and hair karte hain (There, sir has his makeup and hair done). Uske baaju mein is the van jahan saab meetings karte hain (In the van next to that, sir has his meetings). Hear me out. There’s a fourth van, which has his gym. Wahan saab workout karte hain (Sir works out there). I said fine. You have to keep one thing in mind; workout van means he’ll bring his trainer, his assistant, the driver of the van, and the maintainance man of the van. That’s six people for one van. Then, makeup and hair and the stylists have their own assistants.”

Continuing his breakdown, Sanjay said, “Where were we? Number five: Saab khana khayega, bhookha thodi rahega (Sir has to eat; he can’t stay hungry, can he)? A chef stays on set, and all day, he’s just weighing food by the gram. That’s the fifth van. Then there is a sixth van! Paanch van ka staff kidhar baithega (Where will the staff sit)?” Sanjay said that star couples are worse, because they demand separate vans. “There are 11 vans that come on set. Don’t they eat together at home? They’re husband-wife, and still they have separate kitchen vans! I’m not exaggerating at all. This is a fact.”

Sanjay Gupta said that the only actor who doesn’t subscribe to these trends is Amitabh Bachchan. “Mr Bachchan never, ever lets you pay his staff. There is nothing. No per-day, no conveyance. He says, ‘It’s my staff; it’s not the producer’s lookout’. His makeup man, his hairstylist, his driver, his boy… That’s Mr Bachchan for you. But now, a team of two or three has become a team of 30,” he said. Rising entourage costs have become a major debate in recent years, especially after the economic downturn that the industry has witnessed in the last five years. Several stakeholders, including actors, producers, and directors, have spoken about how this has impacted the industry.

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