Jitesh Pillaai talks about the 'budget' war in B-town

Bollywood on budget

Mukesh Bhatt, one of the leading producers of Mumbai's film industry, recently voiced concerns about paying the extra' set of bills - like that of the star's driver, spot boy, make-up guy and personal stylist during the course of a film. He said it was humiliating for a producer to pay more money to a star's spot boy than the film's chartered accountant. It was a brave salvo and one thought it was left unheard. But it came as a pleasant surprise when the news broke out that influential filmmakers like Sajid Nadiadwala, Ekta Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Ashish Patil (Yash Raj Films), Siddharth Roy Kapur (UTV/Disney), Vijay Singh (Fox Star), and a few others, including Mukesh Bhatt, met at Karan Johar's office to discuss the situation and take a united stand against unnecessary expenses. Reportedly, it was decided to have a set of rules to curb the publicity costs of a film.

And let's be a little more skeptical here. What's stopping a producer from reneging the agreement and indulging a star? They are so used to being pampered and the producers have pampered them for so long that it has become a habit of sorts. Yes, a united front of producers would spell good for all concerned. But it's hard to imagine it as a conceivable reality. This kind of solidarity is unheard of in this dog-eat-dog industry. The truth of the matter is that the industry relies too much on the star system. And over the years the stars have come to accept certain perks as a given, irrespective of the banner or the film's budget.

It will be hard for producers to suddenly take this tough stand, given the fact that a film sells on a star's name. Gone are the days when studios used to keep the stars on a tight leash and pay them monthly salaries. Such an era will never return, despite all the wishful thinking. Stars themselves have become savvy investors today and either just produce a film, go in for a partnership or demand a share in the profits instead of their usual fee. Given such a scenario, it would be better for producers to sit across the board with the stars and offer them partnerships that work better for both parties. An outright war would only lead to a bloodbath and isn't advisable.

Yes, there is a need to regulate salary and budgets and also the number of films a star can sign. But it's a long, long battle. The change will come slowly but surely - our filmmakers can take heart from Hollywood where such a struggle was fought bitterly for years before order reigned. There are no quick fix solutions here - so keep calm and keep your fingers crossed - otherwise, there will be blood...

http://www.filmfare.com/features/bollywood-on-budget-8945.html