Saiyaara star Ahaan Panday deserves Rs 100 crore, says Gupt director: Know the reason

The discussion about actor salaries in Bollywood is intensifying. Veteran filmmaker Rajiv Rai, known for the Kajol film Gupt, has criticized producers, claiming they are contributing to the problem of excessively high star fees that are not sustainable.

On Bollywood Hungama, Rai didn’t mince words. He said, “I would blame the producers because they are willing to pay. An actor can even quote Rs 1000 crore. It’s basic demand and supply. Since there’s more money in the market now, everyone’s chasing glamour over substance."

He criticized the emphasis on star power over storytelling, stating that producers frequently prioritize visual appeal over the script. “They think audiences will show up just because a certain actor is in the film. But glamour doesn’t sell alone. They don’t even bother to look closely at the script."

“There might be lakhs of fans gathered outside a star’s home, but these same people won’t buy tickets to see their film. They’re not loyal. They won’t open their wallet unless the content connects."

Rai suggests a more sensible fee structure, where an actor's compensation is tied to the film's financial success. “Here’s how I calculate an actor’s fee: whatever I pay them, they must recover for me on Day 1. If I want to be generous, I’ll give them three days. If I’ve paid Rs 100 crore to an actor, then the film must make that back within three days of release. That’s when they truly deserve the money."

He gave a playful example, stating that Ahaan Panday would deserve Rs 100 crore for a film if he could generate that much revenue. He added, "So, when someone asks me for Rs 10 crore, I just say: I'll give you my first day's earnings."

This discussion follows the success of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's "Saiyaara," which has performed strongly at the box office. The film earned Rs 21.5 crore on its opening day, increasing to Rs 26 crore and Rs 35.75 crore over the following two days, totaling Rs 83 crore in India during its debut weekend. It reached Rs 100 crore globally in three days and has now grossed Rs 250 crore domestically within ten days.

Saiyaara has surpassed Rs 250 crore net in India and over Rs 300 crore worldwide, becoming one of 2025's biggest surprise hits. The film aims to reach Rs 275 crore domestically by the end of its second week.