Financial pressure cooker of Bollywood
The features of glitz, glamour, and grandeur have always been synonymous with Bollywood. Ornamental sets, celebrity gowns, and glamorous locations—the Hindi film industry has established a golden criterion for the major-budgeted movie industry. Out in the open, we have a quiet financial hurricane brewing, though. Increasing costs of production are burning the pockets of producers, and it is becoming an uphill task to bring films within budget.
The stylists now bill at 75,000 or 1.5 lakh rupees per day, actors have been demanding charters of vehicles, and even the makeup and music departments are billing at top rates. The economic feasibility of filmmaking is unsustainable in an age when the amount of money a particular film makes at the box office is unpredictable and the rivalry of OTT is intense.
Now let us delve into the reasons why Bollywood producers are in tight corners and what that might mean for Indian movies in the years to come.
The Evolution of the Bollywood Budgets
A Bollywood mid-budget film could be wrapped in an 810 crores movie not so long ago. In 2009, pre-production planning as simple as that can usually go above even such a range. We cannot blame it all to inflation because it is the culmination of increasing lifestyle needs, global beauty, and brand-conscious celebrities.
Bullet Budget Breakers:
- Styling Wardrobe
- Stylist charges/day: 75,000 INR-1.5 lakhs
- Costumes of a lead actress can reach 10 lakh in the designer’s count per song
- The high cost is incurred in making, storing, and insuring custom wardrobes
2. Add-On Requests & Talent Fees
- A-list actors charge 20-100 crore of fees
- Add-ons daily: hotels, jet set living, personal chefs
- Clauses such as special trailers, on-call security, and personal trainers are now the norms
3. Location and Logistics
- Filming outside the country needs overseas film teams, local permits, and visas
- Domestic sets have become almost similar to international sets, increasing the cost of art direction.
- Travels, boarding, and food used by units are bound to increase the cost rapidly
4. VFX and Post-Production
- Budgets of VFXs have gone through the roof after Brahmastra and Pathaan
- 4K grading and Dolby sound mixing is now OTT-ready 4K grading standard
Case in Point: Stylists Receiving More Money than Line Producers
The most surprising thing is the emergence of celebrity stylists, perhaps. Previously treated as belonging to a greater crew, stylists are now an entity of their own, demanding high fees and having as much creative input as to the way celebrities appear on the screen and in promotional campaigns.
As trade insiders put it:
“The stylists nowadays are even charging the amount of a line producer. They have a say over look tests, international shopping jaunts, and even script recommendations should the job not permit them to change two and three times over.”
The result? Costume budgets, just as expensive as a whole location shooting.
Demands of Actors: Doll worth a Modest Price
The era of actors appearing without much ado is gone. Nowadays, doing deals with the best actors usually involves a series of non-negotiable goodies besides talent salaries:
The A-list actors’ desire:
- Set Personal Chefs
- Fancy vanity vans, complete with exercise equipment, spa, and relaxation rooms
- High-end travel plans, such as chartered flights
- Holidaying at 5-star hotels, not only by themselves, but also by their teams
- Full-time security, twenty-four hours
Such additions tend to place a producer in a dangerous budget situation, even his photographer picked up a radio gun to take the first shot.
The OTT Effect: Bigger Price, Greater Demands
The boom of content on OTT platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar has indirectly increased the level of expectation in Bollywood as well. Patrons have started to compare the big screen movies with good shows such as The Family Man, Mirzapur, and Delhi Crime.
To compete at the international level, Bollywood is spending more on:
- Cinematic storytelling
- Set and size design
- Post-production quality
However, these are changes at a high cost. The production values have often risen quicker than the profits in most cases, particularly when it comes to theatrical-only releases.
It is the Smaller Films that are Suffering The Most
Where large production units with deep pockets, such as the Dharma, YRF, and T-Series production companies, can still pay over the top as they have multi-platform revenue systems, small independent producers are floundering.
Filmmakers trying to make mid- or low-budget films contend with:
- Resistance by A-list actors unless a perk is given
- Large advance payments to stylists, cinematographers, and even PR companies
- Inability to find out economical sites because the rates are unionized
- Potential of losing one’s finances in case the film is not grasped by OTT platforms
Said one indie producer:
“I have shelled out 2 crore even before locking the script in terms of styling, location recce, and advance bookings. It is too late for me to go on the floor when I am already in debt.”
Experts say
As Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahta had said recently:
“Currently, there is an unrealistic entitlement feeling among most departments in the industry. Whether it is the hairstylists or background dancers, they all would like to earn superstar prices. It’s unsustainable.”
Such an idea is shared even by director Hansal Mehta:
“Talent must be rewarded with good pay, but the bubble must burst. Otherwise, in the near future we will end up with only two types of films, mega-budget and zero-budget.”
Is it Possible to rectify the Situation?
Yes, but that will mean collective action by the producers, talent managers, and unions. The following are some of the solutions:
1. Limiting Daily rates and excess Costs
Similar to the way sports leagues have wage ceilings, it is possible that the crew rates could be standardized. Bollywood could also have a system where there is a budget with floating rates on stylists, PR agents, etc.
2. Performance-Based Pay Models
Instead of paying actors and the technical crew in advance, they may be asked to share the profits at the back end and this will create a more cooperative than commercial environment.
3. Employment of Emerging TalentFilmmakers ought to reach into new actors, stylists, directors, and musicians whom the majority of them do quality work at a decple of the rate.
4. Wiser Location Management
It can be reduced to rock bottom by shooting in local Indian locales, tax-incentive states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, or through set extensions by green screen.
Conclusion: The moment has arrived to either be vain or be viable.
Bollywood is in a dilemma. On one hand, there is the shimmering castle of unending decadence, and on the other, there is the cold reality of ever-fading margins and uncertain paybacks. The theatrical viewing and customer preferences are changing at a high rate, especially due to the entry of OTT platforms, which have started disrupting the industry, and it is time the industry should take a look at itself.
The time has come to reset the production expenditure in case Bollywood is expected to be financially fit and creatively juiced. The story should dictate the budgets and not egos.
And with the recent announcement of exploitation by Sudhanshu Pandey and his privilege in this world of film (and before him, a lot of others), it is both monetary and moral expenses that burden the filmmakers today.
It is high time to balance it out-there has to be a sensible budget behind every blockbuster.
Also Read: What Girish Kumar Is Doing Now Will Surprise Bollywood Fans