'Shah Rukh Khan Never Talked About Money With Me,' Says Karan Johar On Star Fees And High Entourages

Karan Johar recently appeared on Komal Nahta's podcast, Game Changers, providing a unique look into his personal and professional relationship with Shah Rukh Khan. The filmmaker discussed how star compensation is currently structured. He even talked candidly about how performers hardly ever give their money back when their films don't do well. Recalling his equation with Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar revealed that they have never discussed money.

Karan Johar talked about the current situation of star fees. He even disclosed the fact that actors rarely return the money when their films fail to perform at the box office. He said, "If an actor is a massive star, he deserves a fat fee but then, he should also participate in the profit model. It could be in terms of box office performance or profit percentage. If an actor will front load a film with a high budget, then recovery becomes difficult. The scenario at present is unpredictable. Sometimes, a big film bombs and at times, a small film explodes at the box office. Kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Hence, a big star should charge a big price and rightfully so. At the same time, he should also have a skin in the game."

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The filmmaker added, "No actor says that - 'My last 2 films haven’t worked. So, I’ll return some amount of money from the fees that you paid me'. Wapas toh koi deta nahin hai. Sab lete hi hai. Koi deta toh hai nahin (laughs)!"

Karan Johar And Shah Rukh Khan Bond

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Karan Johar turned producer recalled his close bond with Shah Rukh Khan and how they've never spoken about money. He said that he has benefitted from his equation with actors. The filmmaker shared, "I have never benefited from my friendship with actors. Actors are good and lovely during parties, but everyone means business. The only exception is Shah Rukh Khan. He’s everything for me – collaborator, friend, bhai. I call him bhai."

He continued, "He's the only actor who has never talked money with me. He never talked about it with my father (Yash Johar). He says, ‘Whatever you want, send the paper and I’ll sign it.' When I go as a director, he has not even heard the script. I just tell him, 'Bhai, I am directing this film.' He'll tell me, 'Okay. These are my dates.' When asked about fees, he'll say, 'Whatever you want to pay.'"

(Image: X)

Karan Johar revealed that Shah Rukh Khan likes getting presents. "If I am shopping, I’ll send him a picture and ask him, 'Bhai, do you like it?.' He does the same. And he's a massive shopper like me. We both are retail maniacs (laughs). What I love about him is that he loves presents. Even now, when you give him a present, he behaves like an excited two-year-old child. When he opens the present, there's joy."