• Source:JND
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Following a string of high-profile box office failures, debates over their inflated production expenses began to dominate the conversation. Farah Khan, Rakesh Roshan, and Sanjay Gupta were among the celebrities who openly condemned these practices by citing cases in which celebrities made inflated demands on the set. The most recent addition to the list, Aamir Khan, and called it 'shameful' and unjust to producers. He criticized celebrities who abuse their position by putting unreasonable expectations on their producers.

Aamir Khan asked why producers are compelled to pay for expenses unrelated to filmmaking. In a conversation with Komal Nahta on his YouTube channel Game Changers, the Sitaare Zameen Par actor has questioned some celebrities for their lack of grace. He claimed that even while star power is significant and that people enjoy seeing celebrities, there used to be a system in place where producers would even cover the cost of the star's spot boy and driver.

Aamir Khan said, "Stars should get recognition, but not to a point where they start to trouble the producers. There was a system that the producer will pay for the star’s driver and his help on set. I found this practice very strange." He added, "I thought, 'The driver and the help is working for me, why is the producer paying for it?' If the producer is paying my personal staff, does that mean he will also start paying for my kids’ school fees? Where will this stop."

Aamir Khan continued by stating that he has always valued independence. He resented producers paying for personal expenses like his chauffeur or employees, suggesting that they might as well finance his child's tuition under that line of reasoning. The actor who has also backed highly acclaimed films like Laapata Ladies, Peepli Live and others belives producer should only invest in the things that the movie truly need, such as the wardrobe crew or makeup artist, rather than in employees that work directly for the actor.

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"I hear that stars of today also don’t care to pay their drivers. They ask their producers to pay them. Not just that, but the producer is also paying for the actor’s spot boy. They don’t stop here. They make the producer pay for their trainers, cooks. I have heard that now they keep live-kitchen on set and expect the producer to pay for it. They even demand multiple vanity vans for kitchens and gyms," he shared.

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Aamir Khan explained that he doesn't object to celebrities obtaining these privileges, but he claimed that the industry suffers when producers bear the expense. "These stars are earning in crores and yet not capable of paying for their needs? I find this extremely strange. It is very sad and harmful for the industry. I am saying it strongly that it’s a shame that even today there are actors who are being very unfair to their producers and their films," he said.

Aamir Khan gave an example, stating that he never asks the producer to pay for outdoor shots when he brings his family along or does so himself. He also mentioned how many celebrities today abuse their power and charge producers more, which he believes is unjust and disheartening.