Star Hero Need Six Vans Just to Sit Naked

The rising expenses of Bollywood actors’ entourages have often been a concern for filmmakers. Director Sanjay Gupta recently spoke about this issue during a conversation with Cyrus Broacha on his podcast by giving some surprising details.

Sanjay Gupta shared that while some stars demand as many as six vanity vans on set, senior actors like Amitabh Bachchan never allow producers to cover the costs of their staff. According to him, actors from the older generation, including Hrithik Roshan and Bachchan, usually work with only one makeup artist and a spot boy. “This is real; I’m very serious,” Gupta said, adding that the newer stars often arrive with six “mandatory” vans.

He described how the vans are used: “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.”

Gupta further explained that food requirements add to the costs. Some actors bring chefs who measure meals by the gram, which means another van is required. A sixth van is then needed to manage the staff connected with the first five.

He also recalled incidents involving star couples: “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, Gupta praised Amitabh Bachchan for being professional and considerate toward producers. “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.’” Gupta noted that Bachchan manages with just two or three people, whereas today’s stars bring teams of nearly 30.

His comments are similar to earlier concerns raised by filmmakers Rakesh Roshan and Farah Khan. Farah even revealed that some actors travel with personal chefs for customised meals.

Sanjay Gupta, known for films like Kaante, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Kaabil, most recently directed the 2024 sports drama The Miranda Brothers.