Manoj Bajpayee is an exceptional actor who has demonstrated his acting talent in several ground-breaking roles. With the release of Bhaiyaa Ji, he added another feather to his cap by becoming a producer. Concurrently, there has been ongoing discourse on the escalation of star entourage expenses, which poses financial difficulties for the film’s production team. Manoj offered his thoughts on the matter, discussing his personal experience and how to handle a similar circumstance.
Manoj Bajpayee, who is currently producing Bhaiyaa Ji, spoke at length with News 18 Showsha about his opinions on the subject of big performers’ outrageous entourage demands and costs. The adaptable actor said that he doesn’t travel with a big entourage and that his crew has remained the same for the previous 25 years, using his own example and expertise as support.
He disclosed that he continues to receive the same benefits. The actor continued by stating that although some movies don’t have vans, they still go ahead since they are passionate about making movies. Manoj furthered his case by disclosing that they were without vans or other amenities for the majority of the Joram filming.
He referred to the conversation as “a little contradictory,” noting that the producers who voice their complaints frequently work on star-studded movies because they “will secure a larger budget for a grand film.” “A big star comes with their own set of perks, so you can’t expect them to lower their fees or perks to fit your budget,” he went on to say.
Bajpayee went on to say that private talks are necessary for producers who want to control a star’s fame by sticking to a tight budget. He claims that the market value of the actor is taken into account when making movies.
“If you want to use the star’s appeal but keep the budget low, you need to negotiate directly with the star. Public complaints won’t solve the problem. Only a private discussion will help you find a compromise. No one has asked me to cut my fees because they’re already reasonable. We complete a film in 35–40 days, and everyone is satisfied,” he said.
It’s important to note that seasoned director Karan Johar expressed concerns about costs rising earlier this year during the release of the Kill trailer. According to him, actors need to be aware of the current times, the film industry’s culture, and how difficult it is to work on a large-scale motion picture of any kind.
KJo exposed that there are so many above-the-line expenses that it is “impossible to mount the film,” criticizing the actors who had higher expenses. He emphasized the need for a single movie star to carefully consider their requests because, frequently, some producers will cover the cost if they really want to make the movie. He claimed, nevertheless, that over time, it will seriously harm the environment and the overall system.
Taking a sly dig at high-cost actors, he said on a concluding note, “They have to look at that and say there can be back and deals, percentage of profit, and slabs of box office as per performance-based remuneration. All that is possible, but every actor has to really look within because a lot of them are not really in touch with reality.”