Choreographers Piyush Bhagat and Shazia Samji, active in Bollywood for several years now, have shared their take on the raging debate over the increasing entourage cost of celebrities. Recently talking to Hindi Rush, the duo spoke about how some of the biggest stars—such as Aamir Khan and Salman Khan—cover several of their personal expenses themselves, showing the way at a time when the entourage cost has become a hot talking point.
Talking about their experience of working with Salman Khan, the choreographers shared that Salman never puts any excess burdens on filmmakers. “He carries his own Being Human food truck on every shoot”, said the choreographers, adding, “He doesn’t ask the producers to pay for food for his team. Everyone knows that a food tent is set up on his films. The Being Human truck is present on every shoot and they serve yummiest food.” The duo fondly remembers having lunch with the actor, and according to them, the meal feels extra special simply because Salman was dining along with them.
Likewise, they appreciated Aamir Khan’s responsible attitude. Piyush and Shazia claimed that Aamir pays his driver’s salary himself and does not believe in passing on such expenses to the producers. They mentioned one of his quotes: since the driver works for him and not for the film, the film’s budget should not pay for that expense.
Commenting on the bigger problem, the choreographers said that actors have become more aware of the impact created by their entourage after filmmakers started speaking candidly. The duo pointed out that though entourage culture has grown manifold, many stars are now circumspect. They took the example of actress Tamannaah Bhatia as an embodiment of professionalism, saying though she has a team, she sees to it that they don’t cause inconvenience or additional costs.
These comments come at a time when a growing number of Bollywood personalities have been expressing their discontent over the rising entourage cost burden. Filmmaker Karan Johar recently spoke about the issue while talking to Komal Nahta during his YouTube show Game Changer. Johar explained that his objection is a matter of principle and not financial in nature. He explained how productions allocate a certain budget for basics, but beyond that, any personal needs an actor may want-whether in the form of a personal trainer or special food-requires them to pay for it themselves. He further explained he is ready to pay only when such support becomes essential to the film, as in the case of a sports drama that requires certain physical preparation.
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With voices across the industry now speaking up, the debate over entourage costs continues to spotlight the need for balance, accountability, and professionalism in Bollywood.
