Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar in a recent director’s roundtable chided Karan Johar for skewing industry trends by giving into stars’ high demands in the past.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, reacting to stars such as Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn’s films opening to Rs 2 crore or Rs 3 crore, Karan said, “Everybody has to look at their remuneration levels.” Zoya then interjected, and said, “Karan, you just have to stop paying them.” To which the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani director said that he has.
He added, “I don’t pay anymore. I’ve said, ‘Thank you very much, I can’t pay you’. I am not paying anyone. What were your last couple of films? How much have you opened to? What right do you have to ask me for this number? I produced a small film called Kill, I spent the money on it because it was a high-concept film with a rank newcomer. Every star that we went to asked me for the same money as the budget. When the budget is Rs 40 crore, how can you ask for Rs 40 crore? Are you guaranteeing me that the film will do Rs 120 crore? There’s no guarantee.”
Citing the example of Hollywood trends, he said, “Hollywood started doing this a decade ago, when they started giving these new stars all the tent pole franchise films. They were empowered by the studios. That’s what needs to start happening here. You can take younger actors, and you can tie them in contractually and not let them do a similar franchise for another studio…”
In the interview, Karan also pointed out the imbalance in film hierarchies, which often lead to below-the-line talent being under-paid. “You get so upset about paying a cinematographer or an editor top dollar, but you want to pay an actor who is not assuring you an opening. This editor is magical, he or she can change the game of your narrative, but you don’t want to pay them,” he said.
