Strugglers need Rs 1million to survive in Bolly

Fame and the first big break come at a price. Here's looking at how much starlets spend on keeping up with appearances

In a business that is all about appearances, keeping up with it comes at a cost. Other than those who are already in the big league, peripheral actors end up spending a lot more on convincing the world that they 'belong,' than what the odd film assignment can afford.

Take this Delhi girl - who acted in a film with a certain Khan and then disappeared - daughter of a CEO of one of the largest FMCG companies. Hopeful that he will be able to fund her Bollywooddreams, he sent her off to Mumbai. Problems arose when she started spending a lot more than what he earned. "I still remember the phone call from my father. He wanted to know how come I had spent Rs 10 lakh in a month when I was living alone. I just couldn't explain to him that I had to spend at least that much as a struggling actress," she says.

It is a cut-throat world where there is no mercy for those who cannot spend. A stylist who works with designers to procure dresses for struggling starlets, says: "Some girls approach me to rent a dress and when I ask for 10 grand, which is five per cent of the cost of the dress, they look at me as though they want to kill me. Why come here and struggle honey if you cannot afford to rent a dress? Bollywood is no more a middle-class dream, one should know now."

Accommodation
1 Lakh
Considering most starlets are out-of-towners, they need to rent a decent flat in the initial years before they make it big enough to buy their own. Considering they'll get quite a few visitors, a 2 or 3 bhk is a must. Minimum rent: Rs 1 lakh + deposit (Juhu or Bandra)

Support Staff
2.65 lakh
Cook & Maid: Rs 20,000 Driver: Rs 15,000 Stylist: Rs 15,000 per assignment

Make-up and hair stylist:
Rs 30,000 per assignment Security: Rs 15,000 Secretary-cum-assistant: Rs 25,000 Publicist: 1 lakh per month Personal trainer: Rs 25,000 Salon treatments: Rs 20,000

Entertaining
1 Lakh
Apart from costs incurred for updating portfolios and other miscellaneous expenses, which can go up to Rs 50,000, a good amount is spent for 'business meetings' at five-star or similar upscale venues. Considering the frequency, it would add up to Rs 1 lakh a month.

Hot Wheels
Rs 40,000
No one can afford to be seen arriving at an event in anything less than a luxury sedan'even if it's a 'friend's car' or a rented one. Costs: Rs 8,000 to hire a BMW and Rs 10,000 for an Audi.

Dresses and Accessories
Rs 70,000
Repeating a dress or an accessory is a sin. With at least two media appearances every week, the cost of dressing up and stepping out is high. You need at least 20 dresses a month on rent. And rentals for designer lables start at Rs 10,000, while shoes and jewellery can be rented at upwards of Rs 25,000 and more

Pocket Pinch
Given my middle-class background, I could never have afforded this lifestyle. I survived because I was doing TV serials and managed to make some money. A woman needs to spend obscene amounts to be a part of the glamorous set - no less than seven-eight lakh a month. without deep pockets you cannot survive as a struggler in Bollywood.
' Prachi Desai

One needs to spend at least five-six lakh a month one oneself to be able to survive in the film industry. Financial security is important to remain in the race. There are many who come here and because they don't have the money to keep up with appearances, they are forced to do a lot of other things like modelling for smaller brands. I never conformed to those notions.
'Gul Panag

The costs keep increasing as you climb up the ladder. The more people get to know you, the more you need to show off that you are not in the film industry to earn money. The rent and the cost of your staff keep spiralling if you don't have a source replenish your income. If you want to make it to the top, you definitely need a deep pocket.
'Sushma Reddy

There's more. You need to take acting or dance lessons which are expensive. I had enrolled for a gym that charged me 20 grand for 15 days - a criminal waste of money. Cost you have projected is the bare minimum, actual costs are much higher. When you are struggling, you need to have commonsense about how to spend your money. If you are not cautious, you may end up broke.
'Anjana Sukhani