KAMBAKKHT ISKQ sTiLLs

i: With flops like Yuvvraaj, Chandni Chowk to China and

Tasveer the Bollywood bubble seems to have finally burst.

Akshay Kumar, whose acting fees had reportedly hit a

high of Rs 75 crore in 2008, has reduced his fees to

around Rs 33 crore. So it seems even the Khiladi

could not dodge the effects of an economy in recession.

“Yes, it is true that I have cut my acting fees. We all

have to do that keeping today’s markets in mind,” Akshay said.

The recent two month face-off between producers and

multiplex owners has already cost them Rs 100 crore

and Rs 250 crore respectively. Add to it, the economic

slowdown and producers are being forced to tighten

their budgets. They have cut down on star prices,

limited the hire of studio equipment, studio floors

and even vanity vans.

“When we started Kaminey the markets were different.

We had to cut costs after the recession,” filmmaker

Vishal Bhardwaj said.

Marketing films has also taken a hit. Kambakht Ishq,

made at Rs 65 crore, went over budget as a result

the plan to fly in the Hollywood talent used in the film

including Sylvester Stallone has now been scrapped.

It wasn't long ago that films like Om Shanti Om and

Ghajini were being picked up for unheard of prices

ranging from Rs 60 crore – Rs 90 crore. However,

the offers aren't so readily coming in now.

Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan starrer London Dreams

which was to be bought by the Indian Film Company

for Rs 120 crore at one point of time is finding it

difficult to fetch even Rs 80 crore now.

Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt starrer Bluereportedly

made at Rs 100 crore is still looking for a buyer.

Even one of Bollywood's most successful filmmakers

Rakesh Roshan is reportedly having trouble getting

the Rs 100-crore price attached to the Hrithik Roshan-

Barbara Mori starrer Kites.

In fact several productions in the pipeline have been

affected by the current market scenario. While Big

Pictures have scrapped their adventure dramaTalisman

starring Amitabh Bachchan, Eros has pushed the start

date for their animation and special effects heavy futuristic

film RA1 starring Shah Rukh Khan.

It is said that everything that goes up at some point does

come down, whether it is the stock market, inflation, star

prices, or budget of Bollywood films. The only thing certain

in this world is uncertainty!