Imran Khan speaks his mind on pay disparity in Bollywood, names actors who earn ‘Rs 30 crore’ per film

Imran Khan, gearing up for his big-screen comeback with Happy Patel, recently discussed Bollywood’s casting dynamics and rising star fees.

Actor Imran Khan, who is all set to make his comeback on the big screen with his upcoming film Happy Patel, recently appeared on a podcast with Samdish. During the conversation, Imran opened up on various matters, including the pay disparity in Bollywood. He spoke openly about the film industry, sharing his views on Bollywood’s casting process and the widening gap between star power and salaries.

Imran also opened up on the hefty fees being charged by A-list actors and even revealed their names. He mentioned Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, sharing his thoughts on how stardom and economics shape casting decisions.

Talking about the casting process in the industry, Imran said, “The approach to casting is all based on budget, even now. It has nothing to do with the actor. Nobody cares whether you’re the right actor for the role. They’re just thinking, ‘How much money can I get with him?’ That’s how I ended up being cast in Matru. On my back, they could get an X amount of money.”

“If you’re an A-lister in theatrical films today, you’re not earning less than Rs 30 crore per film. Anyone my age — Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor — they are not earning less than Rs 30 crore. I would be surprised if any of them are earning less than that,” he further added.

Imran Khan Shares Anecdotes from Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola

During the discussion, Khan shared some entertaining anecdotes from his film Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola. He revealed that the role he ultimately played was initially offered to Ajay Devgn. According to Imran, Ajay had even started preparing for the film but later opted out during the preparation phase. After Ajay’s departure, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj approached Imran for the role, which led to his casting in the film.

He said that the reason Vishal cast him in the film was not solely because he was the ideal choice, but bringing him onboard also helped to get the budget in shape.