Shabana Azmi comments on the rising entourage costs of actors: "We had nobody; gave up cars & travelled in..."

Veteran Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi has recently spoken out about the escalating costs associated with film shoots, particularly focusing on the large entourages that accompany many contemporary actors. Azmi's comments highlight a growing concern within the industry about the financial strain these costs place on film producers.

In a recent interview, Azmi expressed her astonishment at the current state of affairs, where producers often cover exorbitant expenses for the large personal teams that actors bring with them. She drew a comparison to Hollywood, where such practices are uncommon. Quoting the Hindustan Times, "I find it astonishing that producers pick up these crazy tabs," Azmi remarked, noting that in the West, producers typically have control over who is necessary on set. In Hollywood, the primary crew members, like the main dress designer, hairdresser, and makeup artist, are appointed by the producer's team, and actors rarely bring their own staff, except for personal trainers.

Reflecting on her own career, Azmi shared that she managed with a much smaller team during her acting days. In the 1970s and 1980s, she typically worked with just a hairdresser, a makeup artist, and a driver. For low-budget films, she often had no personal team at all, relying instead on the unit's makeup and hair personnel. "In low-budget films, we had nobody. At most, the unit makeup man and hairdresser," Azmi recalled. She also mentioned that she frequently used her own clothes for shoots, used the unit's hair and makeup person, and stayed in the same hotel as the rest of the crew.

Azmi recounted a fond memory from the set of her 1983 film, Mandi. Initially, both she and her co-star, the late Smita Patil, were provided with separate cars for transportation. However, within two days, they opted to join their fellow actors on the bus. "We gave up the cars and traveled in the bus with all the actors because they were having so much fun singing and playing silly games," Azmi shared.

Several industry bodies, including the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association and the Producers Guild Association, have convened with other film organizations and leading talent management agencies to address ballooning movie budgets. A key topic of discussion was the size of actors' personal teams and the associated costs that producers must bear.