Bollywood Stars' Lavish Entourages Frustrate Industry Insiders: "We've Created Monsters"

As of October 2025, the issue of Bollywood stars' lavish entourage costs has become a major topic of discussion in the industry. The concern is not just about the financial burden it places on producers, but also the growing inaccessibility of these celebrities.

Renowned designer Sandeep Khosla, one half of the celebrated duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, has spoken out against the difficulty in reaching Indian celebrities. In a recent interview, Khosla expressed his frustration, saying, "In India, it's a nightmare because you have to go through 25 people, the agency, the stylist, the stylist's stylist, the third generation, the fifth person, the seventh person to get to an Indian celebrity. Till that time you are like bye-bye, thank you very much."

This sentiment is echoed by filmmaker Karan Johar, who recently voiced his disapproval of the excessive entourage costs. Johar clarified that his concern is not financial, but rather an ethical one. "I have an ethical problem with entourages, not a financial one. We set a fixed budget for such needs. But if an actor wants anything beyond that, be it a personal trainer or specific dietary requirements, they should cover the cost themselves. I will pay for it only when it's essential for the film, like in a sports drama requiring a certain physique," he stated.

Furthermore, an air hostess shared a startling anecdote about the behavior of a popular Bollywood actress. According to the air hostess, the actress does not acknowledge the flight attendants, and if they ask her for water, she will not respond, and her secretary or companion will serve the water to her instead. "We have created these monsters," the air hostess lamented.