Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan take 40% of film budget as fees? Siddharth Roy Kapur spills industry truths

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Siddharth Roy Kapur, the man behind hit movies like Barfi, Haider, and Dangal, recently disclosed details about the financial side of Bollywood. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, he revealed that a significant portion (30-40%) of the budget for big productions goes towards paying top actors. Interestingly, he noted a change in strategy, as more actors are opting to take smaller upfront payments and instead receive a share of the movie’s earnings.

Siddharth Roy Kapur pointed out that a considerable chunk, approximately 30-40%, of a project’s budget is frequently spent on the lead actor’s salary. He drew an analogy with Hollywood, referencing Tom Cruise’s earnings for Top Gun: Maverick, stating that a large portion of the budget was allocated to the star due to his presence ensuring a massive opening.

In much the same way, it was observed by Siddharth that prominent actors such as Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Hrithik Roshan significantly impact the fiscal framework of Indian films because of their powerful draw at the box office.

Regarding the query on if top actors are agreeing to lower salaries, Siddharth Roy Kapur clarified that it’s not really a pay reduction. Rather, he noted that actors are choosing to receive less initial payment and instead, gain more by participating in profit-sharing schemes.

Employing this method enables them to reap immediate profits from the movie’s prosperity, with profit-sharing becoming an increasingly prevalent practice within the industry as we progress.

Siddharth Roy Kapur pointed out that it’s common practice to incorporate a certain amount from an actor’s paycheck into the film’s overall budget, which is set at a fixed rate.

Instead, more and more actors are choosing to accept lower initial payments to better control expenses. As compensation, they earn a piece of the earnings if the movie becomes successful. It was mentioned that this profit-sharing arrangement is growing popular within the entertainment sector.

It’s becoming increasingly common in Bollywood for profit-sharing to be emphasized by experienced producers. This arrangement advantages both actors and producers since it makes projects more financially beneficial for everyone participating.

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2025-05-16 17:22