Indian Stars Who Set Unusual Conditions Before Signing Films

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Nov 01, 2026 15:50 IST ⓘ

Indian stars who had memorable terms for their films.

A big banner, a famous co-star and a promising script can make a film offer tempting. Sometimes, though, the final yes depends on something far more specific. One actor wants to keep a moustache. Another wants to dance with a screen idol. Someone else would rather the production keep snakes firmly out of sight. These negotiations reveal plenty about the people behind the performances: their fears, friendships, creative instincts and personal boundaries.

Some were playful requests, others firm requirements, and a few were described as contractual clauses. From recent releases to enduring favourites, here are 18 actors whose acceptance came with a memorable conversation.

1. Mithun Chakraborty - Rajinikanth Mustn’t Beat Or Shoot Me

Playing an antagonist opposite Rajinikanth sounds exciting – until you consider the inevitable confrontation. At the ‘Jailer 2 Super Show’, Rajinikanth recalled Mithun initially resisting the offer, then agreeing to participate if his friend wanted him to. His condition? “You should neither beat me up nor shoot me.” Rajinikanth said he would consult the director, recounting the exchange with amusement. His recollection does not establish that the request became a written contractual clause.

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and released on October 15, 2026, ‘Jailer 2’ returns to retired jailer Tiger Muthuvel Pandian as the criminal network connected to his past threatens his family. Alongside Rajinikanth and Mithun, the cast includes Ramya Krishnan, S. J. Suryah, Vidya Balan and Suraj Venjaramoodu.

2. Priyanka Chopra Jonas - A Dance Number, Please!

Priyanka’s request for SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ was rooted in something she missed about Indian films. Speaking to CinemaBlend, she recalled asking, “I have one request, will you make me dance?” Rajamouli obliged so enthusiastically that she joked she should not have asked. Mahesh Babu also teased her about being responsible for their dance workload. She described a request, rather than an ultimatum or contractual demand.

Scheduled for April 7, 2027, the action-adventure stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka and Prithviraj Sukumaran, with SS Rajamouli directing. Its synopsis follows archaeologist Rudhra on a globe-spanning mission involving an ancient artefact and an asteroid threatening Varanasi. Priyanka plays Mandakini, while Prithviraj portrays Kumbha. Amid that enormous adventure, she made sure there was room to return to the dance floor.

3. Aamir Khan - Change The Script’s Language And Change My Role

Farhan Akhtar approached Aamir for Sid in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, but the actor had two requirements. The dialogue draft was in English, and he wanted to read it in Hindi first. As Farhan recalled, Aamir wanted to know “if this humour will work in Hindi”. His other condition was to play Aakash, a role Akshaye Khanna had already accepted. Akshaye graciously agreed to switch to Sid, helping the eventual trio fall into place.

Released on August 10, 2001, Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut follows three friends navigating love, adulthood and a painful rupture in their bond. Aamir, Akshaye and Saif Ali Khan lead the cast, with Preity Zinta, Dimple Kapadia and Sonali Kulkarni. Aamir’s negotiation helped determine the faces behind two of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable fictional friends.

4. Sanjay Dutt - Mahesh Bhatt Must Direct, And The Moustache Must Stay

Sanjay’s requirement for ‘Sadak 2’ was about the person behind the camera. He said that when Mahesh Bhatt came aboard to write it, he told him he would opt out unless Bhatt directed too. The filmmaker eventually returned to direction for the sequel. Released on Disney+ Hotstar on August 28, 2020, it stars Sanjay, Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur, with Pooja Bhatt also appearing. Its journey brings a grieving taxi driver together with young travellers confronting a fraudulent godman.

For ‘Aladin’, his negotiation concerned a much smaller detail. Director Sujoy Ghosh recalled Sanjay approving his Ringmaster look with four words: “Keep the moustache Bro”. The fantasy, released on October 30, 2009, stars Riteish Deshmukh, Amitabh Bachchan and Jacqueline Fernandez alongside Sanjay, following a young man whose encounter with a genie draws him into a magical conflict. Clearly, the Ringmaster’s facial hair was part of the attraction.

5. Abhishek Bachchan - Two Songs With Rishi Kapoor

Abhishek’s condition for ‘All Is Well’ sounds like a fan making the most of a dream assignment. He told director Umesh Shukla that he wanted at least two songs with Rishi Kapoor. At the trailer launch, he explained that he had wanted to dance with him during ‘Delhi-6’, but their song had played in the background. This time, he wanted to share the performance. “It was a dream of mine to dance with him,” he said.

Released on August 21, 2015, Umesh Shukla’s comedy-drama stars Abhishek, Rishi, Asin and Supriya Pathak. It follows a dysfunctional family on a road trip, with pursuing goons adding urgency to their unresolved arguments. The father-son friction belonged to the story; Abhishek’s enthusiasm for performing with Rishi was entirely his own.

6. Tanuj Virwani - Absolutely No Snakes

‘One Night Stand’ required a particularly specific reassurance for Tanuj. With filming planned in Thailand’s jungles, his fear of snakes became a practical concern. He told Mid-day, “I am petrified of snakes,” confirming that his contract prevented the makers from asking him to shoot with them or in close proximity. He also credited the producers for agreeing to put that protection in writing. This is one example where the actor explicitly described a contractual clause.

Jasmine D’Souza’s drama, released on May 6, 2016, stars Tanuj, Sunny Leone and Nyra Banerjee. A casual encounter sets off consequences that disrupt the participants’ lives and relationships. The film’s central complications were human; Tanuj had ensured that an encounter with a reptile would not become an additional professional obligation.

7. Radikaa Sarathkumar - Get The Elderly Woman’s Look Right

Radikaa’s condition for ‘Thaai Kizhavi’ was wonderfully specific. Initially hesitant about playing Pavunuthaayi, she eventually agreed with a clear reference in mind: “I wanted to look like director K. Bhagyaraj’s mother.” She told Variety India that she wanted the right prosthetics and questioned whether an overseas team would capture that appearance accurately. The production ultimately worked with an Indian prosthetics artist, and she recalled passing through a crowd unrecognised on her first shooting day.

Directed by Sivakumar Murugesan, the film released on February 27, 2026, with Radikaa, Singampuli, Aruldoss and Bala Saravanan among the cast. Its comedy-drama concerns an ailing elderly moneylender whose greedy sons suddenly become invested in her survival after learning of possible treasure. Radikaa’s demand put the character’s authenticity at the centre of the transformation.

8. Ankita Lokhande - Don’t Pay Me For This Film

Most fee negotiations aim to increase the amount. According to producer Sandeep Ssingh, Ankita went the other way for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Recalling their conversation in an interview with India Today, he said she agreed to play Yamunabai with the response: “I am not going to charge anything for this film.” He presented it as an act of support rooted in their longstanding friendship. The no-fee account comes from the producer’s recollection.

Randeep Hooda directed and starred in the biographical drama, released on March 22, 2024. Ankita plays Savarkar’s wife, with Amit Sial also in the cast. The film dramatises Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s political journey, imprisonment and family life. Her reported condition makes this an unusual entry: the negotiation was about refusing remuneration, rather than securing a bigger cheque.

9. Nana Patekar - No Interference From Raaj Kumar

Director Mehul Kumar recalled Nana liking Tirangaa’s subject and character but attaching a warning to his acceptance. If Raaj Kumar interfered with his work, Nana would leave and not return. Mehul said he reassured both actors, and the feared confrontation never derailed the production. In his account, they eventually became friends. Considering the formidable personalities involved, getting that understanding in place was quite a piece of casting diplomacy.

Box Office India dates Tirangaa’s release to January 22, 1993. Mehul Kumar’s action drama pairs Nana’s police officer with Raaj Kumar’s brigadier against a terrorist threat, with Deepak Shirke, Varsha Usgaonkar, Harish Kumar and Mamta Kulkarni also appearing. The men could unite against an enemy on screen once their director had settled the terms off it.

10. Jaya Bachchan - She Could Be On Set Even Without A Scene

One account of Silsila’s casting comes from Sanjeev Kumar’s biographer Hanif Zaveri and niece Jigna. They recalled that Yash Chopra sought Sanjeev’s help to persuade Jaya to accept ‘Silsila’. According to their interview with Vickey Lalwani, her condition was that “she would always be present on set, even when she wasn’t required”. They were recounting the negotiation retrospectively; the statement was not made by Jaya herself.

Released on August 14, 1981, Yash Chopra’s romantic drama stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya, Rekha and Sanjeev Kumar, with Shashi Kapoor in a pivotal appearance. It follows former lovers who reconnect after marrying other people. Its emotionally complicated story and extraordinary ensemble remain central to its fascination, while this recollection adds another layer to its casting history.

11. Arbaaz Khan - I’ll Act If I Can Produce It

Arbaaz’s reported condition took him beyond an acting assignment. Looking back on ‘Dabangg’, director Abhinav Kashyap said Arbaaz agreed to participate on the understanding that he would produce it. “He’ll do it only if he produces it,” Kashyap recalled. The story comes from Kashyap’s retrospective account of their negotiations.

Released on September 10, 2010, Abhinav Kashyap’s action entertainer stars Salman Khan as policeman Chulbul Pandey, Sonakshi Sinha as Rajjo, Arbaaz as Chulbul’s half-brother Makkhi and Sonu Sood as antagonist Chhedi Singh. Family resentments, romance and political violence collide around its swaggering central character. Arbaaz emerged with both an on-screen role and a production credit, giving the casting conversation consequences well beyond his character’s scenes.

12. Zeishan Quadri - The Story Comes With A Role For Me

Zeishan’s route into ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ involved keeping a place for himself inside the world he was writing. Recalling his discussions with Anurag Kashyap, he said, “There’s a character called Definite, I want to play that.” His account made the bargain clear: Kashyap’s agreement to cast him was his condition for writing the script. He was pursuing an acting opportunity through the story he knew so well.

Definite becomes a crucial presence in ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur – Part 2’, released on August 8, 2012. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha and Tigmanshu Dhulia, it continues the coal-mafia saga of inherited grudges and violent revenge. Zeishan’s negotiation secured him a character with a decisive place in that sprawling conflict.

13. Prithviraj Sukumaran - My Performance Must Have My Voice

Discussing his Tamil career in 2008, Prithviraj stated a clear requirement: “My only condition before signing a movie is that I should dub for myself.” He explained that using another performer’s voice would cost him a sense of individuality. This was a broader principle governing his assignments, rather than a newly revealed clause for one particular production. For him, using his own voice was part of completing the performance.

The discussion referenced his Tamil breakthrough ‘Kana Kandaen’, directed by K. V. Anand and released on May 13, 2005. Starring Srikanth, Gopika, Prithviraj and Vivek, the thriller follows a researcher seeking funding for an affordable seawater-desalination project, only to become entangled with a dangerous financier. Prithviraj’s insistence underlines why the voice matters as much as the face when building such a character.

14. Katrina Kaif - Kumud Had To Be Strong Enough

Katrina’s condition for ‘Bharat’ concerned what she would actually get to play. Recalling her conversation with Ali Abbas Zafar, she said she would join only if the character was sufficiently strong. She also spoke about the workshops and preparation required for Kumud Raina, whose story spans decades. The attraction was a substantial character within a major Salman Khan release, rather than the scale of the project alone.

Released on June 5, 2019, Ali Abbas Zafar’s drama follows Bharat’s life against the changing history of independent India, beginning with the upheaval of Partition. Salman and Katrina lead an ensemble including Sunil Grover, Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani and Tabu. Kumud becomes an important companion in that long journey. Katrina’s requirement was less visually eccentric than a special costume or stunt restriction, but it shaped what made the offer worth accepting.

15. Raveena Tandon - Difficult Scenes Had Clear Boundaries

Raveena has spoken openly about the limits she communicated to filmmakers. In a 2023 ANI interview, she recalled refusing ki**ing scenes, swimwear and certain dance steps that made her uncomfortable. For scenes depicting se**al assault, she insisted that her clothes remain intact. “All my clothes used to be fully intact,” she said. Her account described boundaries across films; it did not identify one production as the sole example.

A significant film in her career was ‘Daman’, directed by Kalpana Lajmi and released on May 4, 2001. Starring Raveena, Sayaji Shinde, Raima Sen and Sanjay Suri, it follows a woman confronting domestic violence and trying to protect her daughter. Her performance earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. Raveena’s recollections make clear that accepting demanding material did not mean surrendering her say over how it would be filmed.

16. Hrithik Roshan - No Tiger Shroff, No War

Hrithik’s condition for ‘War’ was about securing the right opponent. Speaking to Pinkvilla in 2019, he recalled telling director Siddharth Anand and producer Aditya Chopra: “I’m doing WAR only if Tiger Shroff is there in this film.” Having come off ‘Super 30’, Hrithik wanted an assignment that would push him physically, and believed Tiger’s ability would force him to bring his best. The admiration went both ways: Tiger had long considered Hrithik an idol, while Hrithik now saw his younger colleague as a source of inspiration.

Directed by Siddharth Anand and released on October 2, 2019, the action thriller stars Hrithik, Tiger, Vaani Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana and Anupriya Goenka. Its story pits soldier Khalid against his mentor Kabir after the celebrated intelligence operative seemingly turns rogue. Their explosive on-screen rivalry began with Hrithik actively asking for someone who could challenge him.

17. Rishi Kapoor - Keep The Night Shoots To A Minimum

Rishi’s negotiation for ‘Mulk’ concerned the shooting clock. Recalling their discussion, Anubhav Sinha said the actor read the script and told him he did not want to work nights. Since several night scenes were essential, they reached a compromise. “He said he would do four night shoots. I agreed,” Sinha recalled. Production eventually required a fifth, which they managed too. The director stressed that he enjoyed working with Rishi and saw the arrangement as a straightforward negotiation between professionals.

Written and directed by Anubhav Sinha, ‘Mulk’ released on August 3, 2018. Rishi and Taapsee Pannu lead a cast including Manoj Pahwa, Neena Gupta, Prateik Babbar, Rajat Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana. The courtroom drama follows a Muslim family fighting suspicion and prejudice after a relative becomes involved in terrorism. Rishi’s performance carried considerable emotional weight; his director was happy to negotiate the hours needed to achieve it.

18. Amitabh Bachchan - A Boundary On Abusive Dialogue

‘Kaante’ brought together hardened criminals, dangerous loyalties and plenty of strong language. Amitabh nevertheless communicated a personal boundary. Recalling their conversation to The Indian Express, director Sanjay Gupta quoted him saying: “Sanjay I won’t abuse, that’s one thing I’ve never done, so I won’t do it.” He had no objection to other characters swearing, and Gupta accepted his request. The filmmaker’s account places the conversation during the making of the film, so this was a production requirement rather than a confirmed condition imposed before signing.

Directed by Sanjay Gupta and released on December 20, 2002, ‘Kaante’ stars Amitabh alongside Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, Mahesh Manjrekar and Lucky Ali. The Los Angeles-set crime thriller follows six men whose bank robbery spirals into suspicion and betrayal. Even within that volatile ensemble, Amitabh wanted a say in the language of his performance.