Amit Sial Reacts to Anurag Kashyap’s Comments on Industry’s Corporate Shift
Bollywood actor Amit Sial recently addressed director Anurag Kashyap’s controversial remarks about the escalating entourage costs in the film industry and the growing influence of corporates on filmmaking.
Anurag Kashyap had recently sparked debate by criticizing the high costs associated with actors’ entourages, suggesting that these expenses burden film budgets and reflect the industry’s increasing corporatization. Responding in an interview with Hindi Rush, Amit Sial acknowledged the validity of Anurag Kashyap’s concerns but emphasized that such realities come with working alongside big stars.
“Of course, these external factors are a problem. He was saying the right thing. But, without naming anyone, if an actor is at a certain level of stardom and a producer approaches them, they already know what’s going to happen. Yet they still went to him,” said Sial.
He further advised filmmakers to consider casting actors who are enthusiastic about their projects instead of expecting major stars to accept lower fees or less glamorous conditions. “What did you think before going? You will transform that star into a good actor? You think you’ve written such a great script that a major star will cut fee? He must be chewing up and spitting out 500 people like you every day,” Sial remarked bluntly.
Sial also pointed out the evolution of the film industry’s production structure, noting that the presence of roles like production designers, casting directors, and background score composers has increased costs but is necessary for modern filmmaking. “A corporate structure came – it has production designer, casting director, background score, etc. All these never existed earlier. Now that it’s there, the paraphernalia of filmmaking has also increased,” he said.
He urged filmmakers to make smart choices regarding actors, stressing that the name attached to a film significantly influences its marketability. “If you want to make your raw content, there are other actors for such roles. You should go there. But then, the films won’t sell without a big name. For the one whose name sells the film, you have to follow the rules. Don’t do it if you have problems, no one has a gun to your head,” Amit concluded.