The controversy over Bollywood stars’ massive fees and the cost of their auxiliary team or ‘Entourage’ is not new. Several directors and producers in the industry have long argued that these rising expenses are pushing film production into the red.
Now, famous hair stylist Aalim Hakim has directly weighed in on the debate.
Aalim Hakim’s Grievance Over ‘Entourage’ Costs:
Aalim Hakim, whose client list includes A-list stars from Bollywood and Indian Cricket, claims that when a star’s film becomes a hit, not only the actor’s fee but also the cost of their ‘entourage’ increases manifold.
In Aalim’s words, “The norm in the industry is such that the higher the actor’s market value, the more the cost of their entourage-meaning the additional people in their team-increases. But I believe the entourage fee should be the same for everyone.” He offered an analogy: “If you buy an iPhone, its price is the same for rich and poor alike. Then why does the remuneration of the star’s team members triple when the star’s film hits ₹500 crores? As if they were the ones who delivered the ₹500 crore hit!”
He believes that while an actor can increase their own fee, a 5-10% annual hike, like in the corporate world, is enough for the team.
Demand for ‘Unethical’ Fees:
Aalim Hakim alleges that many stars today demand “unethical” amounts of money, which he deems wrong. He says, “Whoever is doing it is wrong. We have a fixed price for all actors. The dignity of the profession is lost when someone demands an ‘unethical’ amount of money.” However, he did not disclose the name of any specific Bollywood star in his statement.
It is worth noting that director Karan Johar recently also expressed his displeasure over actors’ excessive ‘entourage’ costs. His point was that if expenses like a trainer or a diet planner are not strictly necessary for the film, the star should bear those costs themselves. Aalim Hakim’s direct comments are now the center of discussion across the industry.