It’s widely known that star fees in Bollywood have posed significant challenges, occasionally becoming a burden that can jeopardize a film’s viability. These remunerations have adversely affected projects, prompting criticism from filmmakers and producers like Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap.
Now, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, celebrated for films like Barfi, Haider, and Dangal, has offered a hopeful perspective on this issue. In a conversation with CNBC-TV18, he suggested that a shift may finally be underway. Roy Kapur said, “Well, I wouldn’t say salary cuts, but they’re definitely looking at now coming in more on the back end and taking less on the front end. So, which means actually enjoying the success of the film, if it works – so taking less upfront and then becoming partners in the success. So, it’s going to become more revenue-share going forward.”
Siddharth Roy Kapur + William Dalrymple = India’s Game Of Thrones?@roykapurfilms is about to wave its magic wand over The Anarchist.
Watch full episode here: https://t.co/az8p312cSj pic.twitter.com/f2cefmYVwu
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 3, 2025
Elaborating further, he added: “So, there’s a component of, obviously, you know, something that’s built into the cost already, which is a fee. And then there’s sharing in the profit. And therefore, the upfront fee can be lower to reduce the cost of the project. And then in success, everyone gains. So, that, I think, is becoming much more prevalent as we go forward.” Roy Kapur acknowledged that, in recent times, actors have taken lower upfront fees and shown willingness to participate in profit-sharing. However, he emphasized the need for this trend become more widespread.
On #YoungTurksReloaded, Siddharth Roy Kapur breaks down why India hasn’t had its #Parasite moment – yet.
In a candid chat with @ShereenBhan, he reveals how a new wave of desi creators is blending local stories with global storytelling flair, and why shows like Kohrra are proof… pic.twitter.com/P3rveSNum0
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 5, 2025
When asked how much the cost of lead stars account for in the overall budget of a big project, Roy Kapur said,“If it’s a big project, it could be as much as 30 to 40%.” He continued, “It’s the same thing in Hollywood as well. If Tom Cruise is doing Top Gun: Maverick, a lot of that budget is going to be his fee. But that’s because that film is going to get a massive opening because of Tom Cruise. And it’s the same thing with our films. I mean, if Salman Khan or Aamir Khan or Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan are in a film, a lot of the economics are based on their presence in the film.”
William Dalrymple’s (@DalrympleWill) best-selling book, ‘#TheAnarchy‘, will soon be on screens across the world after Siddharth Roy Kapur’s production house – @roykapurfilms – secured its coveted TV rights.
He sat down with @shereenbhan to discuss his plans and much more. Take… pic.twitter.com/9FXsB4gi7t
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) April 29, 2025
On the subject of pay parity between male and female stars, Roy Kapur said: “They are getting paid better, but there’s always room for more parity.” When asked about the extent of the disparity, he elaborated: “It’s quite significant. I mean, if you looked at it completely, you know, without any lens, I do believe that it still is commensurate in terms of the commercial potential of those projects – because audiences have told us that they will come in certain numbers for certain kinds of movies. And therefore, that, I think, is the up and down that does exist, whether you like it or not.”
See Also: Shoojit Sircar Reacts To Current Box Office Trends, Says Popular Actors Must Lower Fees: ‘Neeche Aana Padega…’
