Should Bollywood stars follow Prithviraj's model? Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta praises Malayalam superstar's approach to filmmaking
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has weighed in on the ongoing conversation around rising film budgets and escalating actor fees, pointing to Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran as an example the rest of the industry could learn from. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Gupta praised Prithviraj's production strategy, suggesting that many of the film industry's financial struggles could be solved if more stars adopted a similar revenue-sharing model instead of demanding hefty upfront payments.
Sanjay Gupta highlights Prithviraj's production strategySharing his thoughts on social media, Sanjay Gupta wrote: "Malayalam superstar Prithviraj produces most of his own films because — by his own admission — his fee is usually the biggest cost on the budget. So he takes it off the table, swaps it for backend & suddenly the film is affordable, safe & viable." He further questioned why the practice is not more common across the industry.
"Shouldn't this just be the norm? Half the industry's so-called 'problems' would quietly disappear if more stars did this instead of talking about it on panels."
A fresh debate on actor remunerationGupta's remarks arrive at a time when Bollywood has been actively discussing ballooning production costs, with actor remuneration often cited as one of the biggest contributors to inflated budgets.
Prithviraj's model is based on reducing the financial burden during production by foregoing an upfront acting fee and instead participating in the film's profits. The approach lowers the initial investment required from producers while allowing the actor to benefit if the film performs well commercially. The system also aligns the interests of the actor and the production team, as earnings become directly linked to a project's success.
Sanjay Gupta highlights Prithviraj's production strategySharing his thoughts on social media, Sanjay Gupta wrote: "Malayalam superstar Prithviraj produces most of his own films because — by his own admission — his fee is usually the biggest cost on the budget. So he takes it off the table, swaps it for backend & suddenly the film is affordable, safe & viable." He further questioned why the practice is not more common across the industry.
"Shouldn't this just be the norm? Half the industry's so-called 'problems' would quietly disappear if more stars did this instead of talking about it on panels."
A fresh debate on actor remunerationGupta's remarks arrive at a time when Bollywood has been actively discussing ballooning production costs, with actor remuneration often cited as one of the biggest contributors to inflated budgets.
Prithviraj's model is based on reducing the financial burden during production by foregoing an upfront acting fee and instead participating in the film's profits. The approach lowers the initial investment required from producers while allowing the actor to benefit if the film performs well commercially. The system also aligns the interests of the actor and the production team, as earnings become directly linked to a project's success.
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