Veteran filmmaker KC Bokadia has praised the professionalism of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Rajinikanth, saying they never asked producers to pay for their personal staff. He also urged today’s actors to be mindful of production costs and to remember that a film’s financial health matters as much as anyone’s comfort.
KC Bokadia on changing work culture on film sets
In an interview with ANI, KC Bokadia spoke about how the atmosphere on film sets has changed over the years. He recalled a time when actors often sat together and shared meals between shots. Now, he observed, many artistes prefer to spend their breaks inside their vanity vans.
Praise for Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Rajinikanth’s professionalism
KC Bokadia then spoke about Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Rajinikanth, especially when it came to expenses related to their personal staff. He said, “Amitabh Bachchan never took the salary of his staff. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rajinikanth, all of them… They never made producers pay their staff.”He stressed that producers should not be burdened with costs that artistes can manage on their own.
Concern over vanity vans and extra staff
The filmmaker also voiced concern about the growing spending on vanity vans and additional staff during shoots. According to him, some actors now expect several vanity vans with facilities such as gyms. He questioned the economics of such demands and pointed out that the combined cost of maintaining many vans and staff members can sharply raise a film’s daily production expenses.
An appeal to actors
KC Bokadia urged actors to understand the financial responsibilities of producers, saying filmmaking is a business in which every stakeholder has a role to play. He appealed, “We come and say, have mercy on the producer. Otherwise, such a day will come, the ones who will give four shoulders will also have to bring it on rent.”Stressing the need for mutual respect, he added, “This is a business. The actors should also think, ‘It is a business. If the producer is alive, then we will also be alive.’”He also reflected on how short life is and encouraged people in the industry to stay grounded and considerate towards others.
Jackie Shroff ’s easygoing approach
KC Bokadia shared an anecdote from a shoot in Chennai, then known as Madras. He said he stepped in after noticing that Jackie Shroff had been given a double room instead of a suite. Jackie Shroff, however, was not bothered by the arrangement.Recalling the actor’s reply, KC Bokadia said, “Mr Bokadia, you don’t have to play cricket. It has a good bathroom. It’s going well. We’ll shoot all day and come at night.”The filmmaker said this showed the practical and accommodating attitude of actors in those days.
About KC Bokadia
KC Bokadia has spent more than five decades in the film industry as a producer, director and screenwriter. He has produced and directed over 60 films and worked with leading stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Rajinikanth. His notable films include ‘Teri Meherbaniyan’, ‘Pyar Jhukta Nahin’ and ‘Lal Baadshah’. He made his production debut with ‘Rivaaj’ in 1972 and his directorial debut with ‘Aaj Ka Arjun’ in 1990.
