Abhishek Bachchan reacts to reports about actor fees for Raja Shivaji
Abhishek Bachchan said reports about him charging for Raja Shivaji were false and stressed that his appearance was rooted in belief. He said the film mattered because of his bond with Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh and their approach beyond box office figures.
Abhishek Bachchan has reacted to reports about the remuneration he and his co-stars allegedly charged for Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji, saying such claims are false. The actor’s response comes after Riteish recently said that several stars with guest appearances in the film, including Salman Khan, Vidya Balan and Abhishek, waived their fees out of reverence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and because of their personal bond with him.
Speaking to News18, Abhishek said actors are willing to reduce or waive their fees for a vision they believe in. “In today’s day and age, there are all these reels where people talk about facts and figures,” he said, before adding, “The media loves to talk about an actor or an actress charging so much money and demanding for these many vans but at the end of the day, it’s an art form that starts from the heart. We’ve no problems waiving anything off if we believe in something. It’s not a transaction. It’s an emotional transaction. You’ve to be inspired. That’s how art starts.”
Abhishek also praised Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh for not approaching the film through the lens of figures, including its box office prospects. “At a time where there’s so much mathematics attached to films, they’ve affirmed that not everything is about figures. It was about their belief in wanting to do something larger than all of us. They never approached it as a project. It was very sacred to them,” he said.
He said their work ethic was what stood out the most to him and made him feel comfortable on set. Calling it a challenging film to make, he said, “The scale is something that Marathi cinema hasn’t seen before and to achieve that seamlessly and make sure that the unit is happy, safe and inspired... kudos to them, really! I don’t know anybody who had any complaints.”
Raja Shivaji is not Abhishek’s first collaboration with Riteish and Genelia as producers. Recalling an earlier association, he said, “I did a very short voiceover for one of his earlier films that they had produced.” He added that this time, he agreed to be part of Raja Shivaji without even reading the script because of his equation with the couple. “I don’t look upon them differently to my family and me. They’re family to me,” he said.
Speaking further about their bond, Abhishek said, “I’ve known them for a very, very long time. They’re some of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people you’ll ever come across. They’re very dependable friends to me and my family. They’ve conducted themselves even as producers in that way. In a way, Mumbai Film Company is mine. They’ll be sharing the profits,” he added with a laugh.
While Abhishek has been offered Marathi films in the past, Raja Shivaji marks his first appearance in one. He said it was also the first time he spoke Marathi on screen. “Being born and brought up in Mumbai, you’re acquainted with it but if you’re doing something for the first time, there’s always a bit of trepidation. But with Riteish being there, I knew he would take care of it,” he said.
His remarks underlined that, for him, being part of Raja Shivaji was driven by belief in the film and his bond with Riteish and Genelia, rather than by a fee.
Abhishek Bachchan has reacted to reports about the remuneration he and his co-stars allegedly charged for Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji, saying such claims are false. The actor’s response comes after Riteish recently said that several stars with guest appearances in the film, including Salman Khan, Vidya Balan and Abhishek, waived their fees out of reverence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and because of their personal bond with him.
Speaking to News18, Abhishek said actors are willing to reduce or waive their fees for a vision they believe in. “In today’s day and age, there are all these reels where people talk about facts and figures,” he said, before adding, “The media loves to talk about an actor or an actress charging so much money and demanding for these many vans but at the end of the day, it’s an art form that starts from the heart. We’ve no problems waiving anything off if we believe in something. It’s not a transaction. It’s an emotional transaction. You’ve to be inspired. That’s how art starts.”
Abhishek also praised Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh for not approaching the film through the lens of figures, including its box office prospects. “At a time where there’s so much mathematics attached to films, they’ve affirmed that not everything is about figures. It was about their belief in wanting to do something larger than all of us. They never approached it as a project. It was very sacred to them,” he said.
He said their work ethic was what stood out the most to him and made him feel comfortable on set. Calling it a challenging film to make, he said, “The scale is something that Marathi cinema hasn’t seen before and to achieve that seamlessly and make sure that the unit is happy, safe and inspired... kudos to them, really! I don’t know anybody who had any complaints.”
Raja Shivaji is not Abhishek’s first collaboration with Riteish and Genelia as producers. Recalling an earlier association, he said, “I did a very short voiceover for one of his earlier films that they had produced.” He added that this time, he agreed to be part of Raja Shivaji without even reading the script because of his equation with the couple. “I don’t look upon them differently to my family and me. They’re family to me,” he said.
Speaking further about their bond, Abhishek said, “I’ve known them for a very, very long time. They’re some of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people you’ll ever come across. They’re very dependable friends to me and my family. They’ve conducted themselves even as producers in that way. In a way, Mumbai Film Company is mine. They’ll be sharing the profits,” he added with a laugh.
While Abhishek has been offered Marathi films in the past, Raja Shivaji marks his first appearance in one. He said it was also the first time he spoke Marathi on screen. “Being born and brought up in Mumbai, you’re acquainted with it but if you’re doing something for the first time, there’s always a bit of trepidation. But with Riteish being there, I knew he would take care of it,” he said.
His remarks underlined that, for him, being part of Raja Shivaji was driven by belief in the film and his bond with Riteish and Genelia, rather than by a fee.
