In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through the Hindi film industry, veteran producer Boney Kapoor disclosed that he personally covered travel and accommodation costs for his daughter, actor Janhvi Kapoor, during film shoots to avoid burdening producers. The statement, made during an industry interaction, throws a stark light on the escalating, often opaque, economics of star entourages—a growing point of contention between filmmakers and talent.
“Janhvi doesn’t burden producers when she travels during the shoot,” Kapoor stated emphatically. “I have paid for tickets and rooms.” This paternal intervention, while highlighting his support for his daughter, inadvertently underscores a much larger, systemic issue: the immense financial pressure that an actor’s peripheral team places on a film’s budget. Kapoor, a seasoned producer behind blockbusters like “Mr. India” and “No Entry,” is intimately familiar with the delicate calculus of film financing.
The ‘entourage’—a coterie comprising makeup artists, hairstylists, managers, personal trainers, assistants, and sometimes even family members—has become a non-negotiable appendage for top-tier stars. While a lead actor’s fee is a known, albeit substantial, line item, it is the ancillary costs of their team that producers say are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Industry insiders reveal that for an A-list actor, the cost of flying and housing their entourage can easily add 15-25% to their overall acting fee. For a mid-budget film, this can mean an additional outlay of several crores.
Why has this culture become so entrenched? The answer lies in the shifting dynamics of stardom and branding. In the social media age, an actor’s image is a meticulously managed asset. The personal stylist ensures red-carpet readiness, the makeup artist guarantees a flawless look for off-set paparazzi, and the manager fields a constant stream of brand and media queries—all activities that extend far beyond the film set itself. Producers, locked in a competitive race to sign bankable stars, often find themselves acquiescing to these demands.
However, this has led to a simmering tension. Several producers, speaking on condition of anonymity, lament that these costs are rarely negotiated upfront and are often sprung on them mid-production. “The actor’s contract might say ‘business class travel for self’, but it is silently understood that their team of six will also be accommodated. The bill for hotel suites and per-diems alone is staggering,” shared a producer who recently worked with a major star.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many films today are shot across multiple domestic and international locations, multiplying travel and logistics costs. A 10-day schedule in Europe for a star and their eight-member team can incur expenses that would fund an entire small-budget indie film.
Boney Kapoor’s comments have, therefore, struck a chord. By taking on the cost himself, he has, perhaps unintentionally, set a precedent. It raises a question: Should the financial responsibility of an actor’s personal branding and comfort lie solely with the producer funding the film? Or is there a need for a more equitable distribution of these costs, especially when they pertain to image-building exercises that benefit the actor’s career beyond the specific project?
This debate arrives at a critical juncture for Bollywood. The industry is still recovering from the pandemic-induced slowdown and grappling with the seismic shift toward OTT platforms. Audiences are increasingly valuing content over star power, forcing a budgetary reckoning. Lavish spending on entourages is now being scrutinized under the harsh lens of ROI (Return on Investment). Films with exorbitant budgets, bloated by such peripheral expenses, are finding it harder to break even unless they are outright blockbusters.
Kapoor’s revelation about Janhvi is being seen not just as a father’s gesture, but as a subtle critique of the prevailing norm. It suggests an awareness and a willingness to share the producer’s burden. Whether this prompts a broader industry-wide conversation about standardizing and capping such costs remains to be seen. For now, it has certainly pulled back the curtain on one of Bollywood’s most talked-about open secrets, forcing a long-overdue examination of the true cost of creating a star.
