Noted filmmaker Casey Bocadia talks about how some of Bollywood’s biggest stars have worked with producers in the past. He recalled that actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Jackie Shroff and Rajinikanth did not force producers to bear the cost of their personal staff.

Bocadia’s comments come amid growing controversy surrounding the rising costs of film production and expenses including actors’ personnel, personal staff and other facilities. The filmmaker said that the senior stars kept the producer’s budget in mind and did not make additional demands which could have increased the production cost.

In an interview with ANI, Bocadia said, “Amitabh Bachchan never took his staff salary. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rajinikanth, all of them. They never took their staff salary to the producers.”

He also recalled that senior actors often shared meals with the film crew and interacted with everyone on the set without discrimination.

Bocadia shared an example of Jackie Shroff shooting a film in Chennai. According to the filmmaker, Shroff was given a double room instead of a suite. Bocadia felt that the actor should have been given a better room, but Shroff was comfortable with the arrangement.

The actor reportedly told her that the room was good enough as it had a proper bathroom and adequate amenities. Since he spends most of his day shooting and comes back to sleep at night, Shroff said he doesn’t need a big room.

Bocadia objected to what he described as the demands of some actors today, particularly the costs associated with their personnel and facilities.

“Now we come and say, have mercy on the producer, otherwise there will come a day, who will give four shoulders, he will also have to be hired. This is a business, actors should also think: this is a business, if the producer is alive, we will also be alive”.

Bocadia also recalled an incident involving Shahrukh Khan from his work We belong to you, we respect you.. According to him (he produced the film), he had signed Khan for Rs 2 crore and had already paid him Rs 1.05 crore, leaving Rs 95 lakh due.

Bocadia said Khan later told his son that he did not want the remaining amount out of respect for the filmmaker. He also clarified that the decision is his own and Bocadia has nothing to do with it.

Years later, Bocadia said he met Khan at Empire Studios and brought the dues. According to the filmmaker, Khan did not want to discuss it and indicated that there was no need to talk about money.