“Wants To Cut...”: Saif Ali Khan Reacts To Karan Johar’s “Stars Can't Guarantee Hits” Remark
Saif Ali Khan recently reacted to director and producer Karan Johar’s remark that “stars can't guarantee hits”.
Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan is currently winning a lot of praise for his work in Koratala Siva's ‘Devara’. The new pan-India film, which released in cinemas today, has been receiving rave reviews. The ‘Omkara’ actor recently reacted to ace director and producer Karan Johar's remark that “stars can't guarantee hits”. Speaking to India Today, Saif said Karan Johar wants to “cut pay cheques”, which makes him a little “nervous”.
Saif Ali Khan also explained how the economy of the Hindi film industry works, and he also clarified what Karan Johar really meant.
“He wants to cut pay cheques. I think I should have my own union on that. I am sure he is right, but it makes me a little nervous when we hear about cutting pay cheques. No cutting pay cheques. Well look, the economics of our industry (is like that). That's what happens - you go to a star, sometimes they say 'hey, if you want me, that's what it is going to cost',” Saif Ali Khan said.
“And people pay it. And if people pay it, then sometimes the economics do get skewed. But, Indians are businessmen. So the film industry is primarily a business kind of financial centre in itself and people take shots. But, Karan Johar knows best. I'm just joking,” he added.
Speaking further, Saif said, “What he (Karan Johar) is talking about is people charging astronomical money and then not delivering, which can't last. We don't charge that much, we are recession-proof.”
Earlier, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter India, Karan Johar had spoken about stars demanding huge fees, despite not giving an assurance of a box office hit.
“What is your last couple of films? How much have you opened to? With what right are you asking me for this number?...Every star asked me for the same money that the budget was for. I was like, ‘How can I pay you? When the budget is Rs 40 crore, you’re asking for Rs 40 crore? Are you guaranteeing the film will do Rs 120 crore? There's no guarantee, right,” said Karan Johar.
Earlier this year, while speaking to journalist Faye D’Souza on her YouTube channel, Karan Johar had said, “There are about 10 viable actors in Hindi cinema, and they are all asking for the sun, moon, and earth. So, you pay them; then you pay for the film, and then the marketing expenditure comes. And then your film doesn’t do the numbers. Those movie stars asking for Rs 35 crore are opening to Rs 3.5 crore. How’s that math working? How do you manage all these?”
