Imran Khan Criticizes Bollywood Stars' High Fees

“If I have a sense that my film is going to cost 30 crores to make, that’s your cost of production. And I say I will charge 40 crores. So now your film costs 70 crores—Rs 30 crore of which is the actual film and Rs 40 crore is my personal salary. What is now our route to profitability? And do I care about that? I should care about it. It’s my film. I think that there is the potential for this film to be a decent film, take less money up front. Roll the dice. Take a gamble and bet that the film will do well. If anyone can afford to do that, it’s the star, if you’re commanding a salary of Rs 40 crore.”

“I believe that increasingly we have reached a place where stars exploit the system. What I was taught by my uncle, by Aamir. And I have seen in the generation that preceded me, in fact, the several generations that preceded me, is that they would themselves invest in the film. I don’t mean that they are opening their wallet and putting money into the film, but there’s a sense of taking personal responsibility and ownership of the film.”

“I hear that stars of today also don’t care to pay their drivers. They ask their producers to pay them… Where are you spending all the money you are earning? It is extremely sad and harmful for the industry. When you can afford a lifestyle for yourself, why are you putting that on a producer?”

“As an actor, it is my duty to make sure that the production house is not burdened because of me. Every team player should think this. You are all working for the film, be a team.”