Astronomical star fees apart, Hindi film producers are reeling under the impact of star-demands like multiple vanity vans, a gym on the sets, petrol money for transportation to and fro, food of the star’s choice, and meals for the staff.
Producers put a ‘no-can-do’ clause in contracts regarding extra demands of stars: “If a star halts shoot to get a favourite ice-cream from the other end of town, he or she better pay for the ice-cream and the delay,” says Rajkumar Santoshi
Said producer-director Rajiv Rai, “That is just beginning. I have heard big stars who are not even old school but very much a part of Gen-Z, demand not only food of their choice but also insist on taking food home for their family. And mind you, I am talking about stars who charge anything from Rs. 40 to 100 crores. My father (the great producer Gulshan Rai) never had to face such starry demands, although he worked with the biggest superstars of his time: Amitabh Bachchan, Dev Anand, Hema Malini …you name them. There were never any demands outside the contact. Today’s average producer has to even pay the laundry bills of certain stars. Stars treat producers like money bags, meant to be dug into for every expense. And then at the end of the ordeal, the producer gets empty theatres.”
It was for this reason that Rajiv Rai stopped making films for 24 years. “I finally returned to direction with Zora with new faces. It was swamped by War 2 a few days after release. And what happened to that? I rest my case.”
Added producer-director Suneel Darshan, “A vanity van for the artiste is essential to facilitate and convenience the person. Beyond that is a mere display of complexes, egos and extravagances at others cost.”
Veteran filmmaker Sudhir Mishra feels it is the producers to blame for the growing star demands. “I think a vanity van is a good thing if it is brought to locations where there are no changing rooms or toilets. There should be a separate van (for) female assistants on a set and they should not be forced to use male toilets. That for me is the mark of a good production house. That some stars call for 5, 6 or 7 vanity vans is a sign of the weakness of the production house who allow it and then complain.”
The continuing menace of star demands beyond the contract is finally being tackled with producers putting a no-can-do clause regarding extra-contractual demands.
“If a star halts shooting to get a favourite ice-cream from the other end of town, he or she better pay for it: the ice-cream and the delay. I don’t have the patience with these tantrums,” declares Rajkumar Santoshi, who has worked with the biggest of stars, “Some of them did make unreasonable demands. I never worked with them again.”
Concluded producer-director Vikram Bhatt, “Not enough can be said about the vanity-van culture. For me, it was more like I want to make what I want to make when I want to make. I don’t have the patience to wait endlessly for stars.”
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