Saif Ali Khan Reacts to Karan Johar's comment on Stars' Box Office Performance

Saif Ali Khan recently addressed Karan Johar's striking comment about the challenges stars face in guaranteeing box office success. At the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024, Saif shared his insights on the financial aspects of the film industry, emphasizing that discussions around star salaries can be quite complicated. He humorously interpreted Karan's remarks as a suggestion to "cut pay cheques."

In response to Karan’s statement regarding stars demanding Rs 40 crores but struggling to bring in even Rs 3.5 crores at the box office, Saif chuckled and said, “He wants to cut pay cheques. I think I should have my own union on that. I am sure he is right, but it makes me a little nervous when we hear about cutting pay cheques. No cutting pay cheques!” Known for his witty take on serious topics, Saif acknowledged the film industry’s current challenges. 

He explained, “The economics of our industry is like that. You go to a star, and sometimes they say, ‘Hey, if you want me, this is what it’s going to cost.’ And people pay it. Sometimes the economics do get skewed. But Indians are businessmen. The film industry is a financial center in itself, and people take shots. But Karan Johar knows best,” he added with a grin.

Further discussing Karan’s concerns, Saif remarked, “What Karan is talking about is stars charging astronomical amounts and not delivering, which can’t last for long. We don’t charge that much. We’re recession-proof.” This statement follows Karan Johar's earlier remarks during a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter India, where he highlighted the disappointing box office performances of stars like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, despite their high fees. Karan pointed out, “How can you ask for Rs 40 crore when the budget is Rs 40 crore? There’s no guarantee.”

On a personal note, Saif Ali Khan is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, Devara: Part 1. In this movie, he plays the character Bhairava, and it is headlined by Jr NTR. The film is set to hit theaters on September 27, marking Janhvi Kapoor’s debut in Telugu cinema.