Shabana Azmi on new-age actors' entourage cost: I used to have a three-member team, sometimes nobody, used my own clothes, unit's makeup
Shabana Azmi on new-age actors' entourage cost: I used to have a three-member team, sometimes nobody, used my own clothes, unit's makeup
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi recently shared her thoughts on the large entourages of new-age actors and the rising costs of film shoots, highlighting the stark differences between her time in the industry and the current scenario.
Speaking candidly, Shabana Azmi reflected on her own experiences and contrasted them with the present-day practices that she finds excessive and, at times, unnecessary.
Shabana Azmi, known for her roles in iconic films such as Arth, Khandhar, Masoom, and Godmother, expressed her astonishment at the burgeoning entourages that accompany contemporary actors. “I find it astonishing that producers pick up these crazy tabs,” she said, drawing a comparison between the Indian film industry and Hollywood, where producers have more control over who is required in the crew.
Shabana Azmi pointed out that in Hollywood, only personal trainers are usually part of an actor’s entourage, while the main dress designer, hairdresser, and makeup artist are appointed by the producer’s team, eliminating the need for actors to bring their own staff.
Recounting her early days in the film industry, the veteran actress noted that she managed with a minimal team. “During the 1970s and 1980s, I only had a three-member team—a hairdresser, a makeup artist, and the driver. In low-budget films, we had nobody. At the most, the unit makeup man and hairdresser,” she shared.
Shabana Azmi reminisced about a time when she would travel in buses instead of luxury cars, adapting to the needs of the project and its budget. “I used my own clothes, used the unit’s hair and makeup person, and always stayed in the same hotel as the unit,” she recalled, underscoring her adaptability and commitment to the project’s financial constraints.
The veteran actress also shared an interesting incident from the shooting of her 1983 film Mandi. "I remember (the late actor) Smita Patil and I had been given separate cars for the shooting of 'Mandi.' In two days, we gave them up and travelled in the bus with all the actors because they were having so much fun while singing and playing silly games!” she recounted.
Azmi also mentioned another anecdote where she bought her director an air ticket “when I realized he was traveling by train,” highlighting the camaraderie and simpler times of the past.
Shabana Azmi's reflections come at a time when several filmmakers are lamenting the rising costs of film shoots, which have often come under scrutiny.
The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association and Producers Guild Association, among other film bodies, recently met with leading talent management agencies to discuss the escalating movie budgets. One of the main areas of concern was the size of actors’ personal teams and the related expenditures that producers have to bear.
“I have never seen anything like this except for personal trainers,” Azmi said, emphasizing how the current norms in the industry are markedly different from those she experienced during her career.
While for many mainstream actors today, moving without their team feels unimaginable, Azmi’s recollections provide a stark reminder of how the industry has evolved. Her experiences reflect a time when the focus was more on the craft and less on the trappings of stardom. “Even the producers had actors’ support, if anything went haywire. A couple of times, (late actor) Sanjeev Kumar and Shatrughan Sinha shot for the schedule, which was going to be canceled because of funds shortage,” she said