Gupt director Rajiv Rai explains why Ahaan Panday deserves ₹100 crore fees for Saiyaara
Rajiv spoke about how some actors demand ₹100 crore as fees, inflating a film's budget to over ₹300 crore, yet fail to deliver at the box office. He said, 'I would blame the producers because they are willing to pay. An actor can even quote ₹1,000 crore. It's a basic demand and supply. Since there's more money in the market now, everyone's chasing glamour over substance. They think audiences will show up just because a certain actor is in the film. But glamour doesn't sell alone. They don't even bother to look closely at the script.'
Rajiv Rai says Ahaan Panday deserves
₹ 100 crore as fees for Saiyaara
The filmmaker elaborated that while lakhs of fans may gather outside a star's home, those same people may not buy tickets to watch their films unless the content connects with them. He further explained how he calculates an actor's worth:
'Whatever I pay them, they must recover for me on Day 1. If I want to be generous, I'll give them three days. If I've paid ₹100 crore to an actor, then the film must make that back within three days of release. That's when they truly deserve that money. Ahaan deserves it, but I don't think he got anything. So, when someone comes to me and asks for ₹10 crore, I simply say: I'll give you my first day's collection.'
Saiyaara collected ₹21.5 crore in India and crossed the ₹100 crore mark worldwide within just three days. In 11 days, the film has collected ₹256 crore in India and ₹373 crore globally. Its emotional narrative, the powerful performances of its lead actors, and the soulful music struck a chord with the audience. The film has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2025.
About Rajiv Rai
Rajiv made his directorial debut in Bollywood with Yudh, starring Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. He went on to make films like Tridev (starring Sunny Deol), Vishwatma, Mohra, Gupt and more. After his 2004 film Asambhav, he took a break from direction. However, he is now all set to make his comeback with Zora, which is slated to release in cinemas on 8 August.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Saiyaara OTT release set for Netflix; Diwali debut on the cards
After a record-breaking run at the box office, the romantic drama Saiyaara, featuring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, is now gearing up for its digital premiere on Netflix. According to a report by News18, the film — already crowned the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema — is expected to arrive on OTT around Diwali. While an official release date has yet to be confirmed, sources suggest that Netflix and the film's producers are eyeing the festive season for its streaming debut. Originally planned to drop a few months after its theatrical release, the film's overwhelming success — grossing ₹ 478 crore globally in just over two weeks — has led to an extended cinema run. The final OTT release date will reportedly depend on how long the film continues to perform well in theatres. If everything goes as planned, Saiyaara could brighten up viewers' screens during Diwali celebrations. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara tells the story of Krish Kapoor, a troubled musician, and Vaani Batra, a reserved poet. The film explores themes of love, heartbreak, and emotional healing. ETimes rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Ahaan Panday's debut performance. 'He effortlessly blends raw swagger with vulnerability,' the review noted, especially in a powerful final scene where he echoes the intensity of cricketer Virat Kohli. Aneet Padda also received positive reviews for her expressive performance, particularly in a standout scene set in a recording studio, where she reflects on the lasting impact of emotions in music as compared to fleeting trends. With steady theatre attendance and positive word-of-mouth, Saiyaara is expected to continue its strong box office run in the coming weeks. Adding to the excitement, a viral video shows Ranbir Kapoor asking paparazzi, 'Saiyaara dekhi kya?' — sending fans into a frenzy on social media. All eyes are now on Netflix's Diwali line-up, with Saiyaara poised to be one of the season's biggest streaming events.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Son of Sardaar 2 Box Office Collection Day 4: Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur starrer earns Rs 2.50 Crore on first Monday; film inches closer to Rs 30 crore mark
Ajay Devgn's action-comedy Son of Sardaar 2 experienced a significant dip in collections on its first Monday, earning an estimated Rs 2.50 crore nett across India. Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora , the film is now approaching the Rs 30 crore mark, with a four-day total of approximately Rs 27.25 crore nett, according to Day 4 Box Office Collection After an encouraging start over the weekend, the film saw a slowdown on Day 4, with an overall Hindi occupancy of 11.81%. Morning shows began with sluggish footfalls, but viewership gradually picked up throughout the day. Night shows recorded the highest turnout at 16.64%. Collection Break Down The comedy had a promising start at the box office, earning Rs 7.25 crore on its opening day. The film continued to pick up its momentum into the weekend, collecting Rs 8.25 crore on Day 2 and Rs 9.25 crore on Day 3, taking its first weekend total to Rs 24.75 crore nett. However, the film witnessed a sharp decline on its first Monday. Box Office Competition Despite its initial momentum, 'Son of Sardaar 2' is facing stiff competition at the box office. It is currently sharing screen space with 'Dhadak 2', starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, which earned Rs 1.40 crore on Monday. Meanwhile, 'Saiyaara' managed to match the collections with Rs 2.50 crore on the same day. However, the animated mythological film 'Mahavatar Narsimha' overshadowed all three, earning an impressive Rs 8 crore on its second Monday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Meanwhile, 'Son of Sardaar' (2012) was one of the highest-grossing films of Ajay Devgn's career, with a lifetime collection of Rs 105 crore. Thirteen years later, it still ranks as the 10th highest-earning film in his filmography. 'Son of Sardaar 2' features an ensemble cast including Mrunal Thakur , Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Neeru Bajwa, Deepak Dobriyal, Chunky Pandey, Kubbra Sait, Vindu Dara Singh, Mukul Dev, and Ashwini Kalsekar alongside Devgn.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Saiyaara' Box Office collection day 18: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's romantic drama races past Rs 302 crore mark in India; sees LOWEST single-day earning on third Monday
Mohit Suri's romantic drama 'Saiyaara', starring fresh faces Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda , continues to leave a strong impression at the Indian box office. Released on 18 July, the film has not only captured the hearts of the audience but has also raced past the Rs 300 crore mark. However, as the film enters its third week, it has started to slow down. On day 18, 'Saiyaara' recorded its lowest collection so far, showing that the love story may be running out of steam as new films enter the scene. A dream run at the box office 'Saiyaara' has had a fantastic journey since its release. In its first week, the film collected a whopping Rs 172.75 crore, showing that audiences were clearly enjoying the romantic drama. The second week also brought in big numbers, with Rs 107.75 crore added to the total. Entering its third weekend, Saiyaara showed no signs of slowing down. On its third Friday (Day 15), the film earned Rs 4.5 crore. The collections picked up on Saturday (Day 16) with Rs 6.75 crore and rose even further on Sunday (Day 17) with Rs 8 crore. This took the film's total to a whopping Rs 302.25 crore, as per early estimates by Sacnilk. Day-wise collection so far Day 1 (Friday): Rs 21.5 crore Day 2 (Saturday): Rs 26 crore Day 3 (Sunday): Rs 35.75 crore Day 4 (Monday): Rs 24 crore Day 5 (Tuesday): Rs 25 crore Day 6 (Wednesday): Rs 21.5 crore Day 7 (Thursday): Rs 19 crore Week 1 Total: Rs 172.75 crore Day 8 (Friday): Rs 18 crore Day 9 (Saturday): Rs 26.5 crore Day 10 (Sunday): Rs 30 crore Day 11 (Monday): Rs 9.25 crore Day 12 (Tuesday): Rs 10 crore Day 13 (Wednesday): Rs 7.5 crore Day 14 (Thursday): Rs 6.5 crore Week 2 Total: Rs 107.75 crore Day 15 (Friday): Rs 4.5 crore Day 16 (Saturday): Rs 6.75 crore Day 17 (Sunday): Rs 8 crore Day 18 (Monday)*: Rs 2.5 crore (as per early estimates by Sacnilk) Grand Total: Rs 302.25 crore New films join the race While 'Saiyaara' held strong for over two weeks, new releases are now making their presence felt. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'Mahavtar Narsimha' released on 25th July and picked up quickly thanks to positive word of mouth. It earned Rs 8 crore on Monday, August 4, which is higher than what 'Saiyaara' managed on the same day. On Friday, August 1, two more big films hit the screens, Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur 's 'Son Of Sardaar 2' which collected Rs 2.50 crore on Monday, bringing its total to Rs 27.25 crore. Meanwhile, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri's 'Dhadak 2' made Rs 1.40 crore, taking its overall collection to Rs 12.80 crore. 'Saiyaara' is a blockbuster despite the slowdown Despite the Monday dip, 'Saiyaara' is a huge hit The film has not only delivered a brilliant box office performance but has also proved that newcomers can shine just as bright as stars. According to Box Office India, the film's theatrical run could be cut short soon, as the big-budget action film 'War 2' is expected to release in two weeks However, the film is still on track to wrap up with around Rs 325–350 crore in its full run, depending on how it performs this coming Friday.
