The skyrocketing entourage costs of Bollywood actors have long frustrated producers, and director Sanjay Gupta has now shed fresh light on the issue.
In a chat with Cyrus Broacha on his podcast, Gupta revealed that while some stars insist on as many as six vanity vans on set, legends like Amitabh Bachchan never even allow producers to foot the bill for their staff.
Gupta explained that old-school stars such as Hrithik Roshan and Bachchan usually work with just one makeup artist and a spot boy. But newer actors, he claimed, arrive with six “mandatory” vans.
“This is real; I’m very serious,” Gupta said. “The first van is his personal space. Wahan saab nanga baithte hain (That’s where sir sits naked). Next is the van for makeup and hair. Then, a van for meetings. The fourth van is his gym. And remember, a gym van means not just the van but also a trainer, assistant, driver, and a maintenance guy.”
Food requirements add to the excess. Gupta said that some stars hire chefs who weigh meals by the gram, requiring yet another van. Finally, a sixth van is needed just to house the staff managing the previous five vans.
Gupta remarked that star couples are “even worse,” recalling an incident: “There are 11 vans that come on set. Don’t they eat together at home? They’re husband and wife, yet they have separate kitchen vans!”
In contrast, he praised Amitabh Bachchan for his professionalism. “Mr Bachchan never lets you pay for his staff. No per-day, no conveyance. He says, ‘It’s my staff; it’s not the producer’s lookout.’ His makeup man, hairstylist, driver, and boy are all his responsibility. A team of two or three has now turned into a team of 30 for today’s stars.”
Gupta’s remarks echo earlier complaints by Rakesh Roshan and Farah Khan, who also criticised actors for demanding six vanity vans. Farah revealed on her cooking vlog that some even travel with personal chefs to prepare custom meals.
Gupta, who made his directorial debut with Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994) and went on to helm Kaante, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Kaabil, most recently directed the 2024 sports drama The Miranda Brothers.