Aamir Khan has sharply criticized the growing trend of Bollywood stars demanding excessive perks from producers.
Speaking on Komal Nahta’s YouTube show Game Changers, Khan said: “The producer should only spend what the film requires. Pay the make-up artist, hairdresser, costume person — that’s part of the film. But why should the producer pay for my boy or my driver? They work for me.”
He noted that while it was once common for producers to cover a star’s driver or spot boy, he opted out of that practice: “I’m very independent. I don’t want producers paying my staff. Does this mean they’ll also pay my kid’s school fees? Where does it stop?”
Khan said he was “shocked” by some of today’s demands: “Producers now pay an actor’s driver’s salary, the boy who brings tea and coffee — even personal cooks. Some stars bring a cooking van and a gym van to set, and the producer pays for that too. When a star earns in crores, can’t he pay his own staff? Every star’s priority should be not to burden the film. That’s being a team player.”
He clarified that producers should cover costs directly tied to production.
“When I did a film on wrestling, the training was provided by the producer,” he said.
Khan added that he also bears personal expenses on outdoor shoots: “Even when I take my family, I’ve never made the producer pay. I put in the extra money myself. Today, stars are taking advantage of being stars. It’s odd — and a shame that some actors are still being unfair to their producers and films.”
