Mumbai: Entrepreneur Ashneer Grover, widely known for his stint on Shark Tank India, has sparked a debate by questioning the massive paychecks demanded by Bollywood actors. Grover suggested that stars should have confidence in their stardom and earn only when films succeed, instead of taking fixed fees running into Rs 100 crore upfront.
Stars overvalued compared to start-ups
In a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Grover said Bollywood stars are often overvalued compared to start-up founders. He expressed surprise that some actors command Rs 40 crore, Rs 80 crore, or even Rs 100 crore, while films sometimes make just Rs 20 crore at the box office.
He remarked, “If a star is truly confident in their stardom, they should be willing to take a share of the profits instead of asking for huge upfront fees. It would align incentives better and reflect real faith in their talent.”
Advocating profit-sharing over fixed salaries
Grover highlighted that even established actors often rely on enormous fixed pay, rather than sharing the film’s profits. According to him, this raises questions about whether stars truly believe in their own appeal and audience pull.
The entrepreneur’s comments come amid ongoing discussions in Bollywood about rising actor salaries and the financial risks producers face.
Ashneer’s recent ventures
Currently, Grover is hosting a reality show called Rise and Fall on an OTT platform. He did not return to Shark Tank India after the first season, reportedly because he had asked for a higher fee that the makers declined. The show has continued for four seasons with other judges.
Additionally, Grover has hinted that a biopic on his life is in the works, adding to his expanding portfolio beyond the start-up ecosystem.
Conclusion
Ashneer Grover’s remarks have reignited the debate on actor remuneration and profit-sharing models in Bollywood. By drawing parallels between start-up founders and film stars, he has challenged the industry to rethink compensation practices and align rewards with actual performance.