Madhur Bhandarkar Slams Bollywood's Vanity Van Wars

National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar spoke candidly about the entertainment industry's rising expenses and entourage culture during the final day of the Red Lorry Film Festival 2026 in Mumbai. Bhandarkar criticized the lack of industry-wide unity regarding actor demands, specifically highlighting the contradiction in how vanity vans are managed. He noted that while producers frequently complain about stars requesting over a dozen vans, those same producers often provide even more than requested to secure a prominent actor for a project.

The director emphasized that the industry needs a unified stance on payment and staff costs to bring stability to production budgets. He suggested that producers should establish a standardized template for staff expenses rather than trying to outdo one another with luxury offerings to lure talent. According to Bhandarkar, the current culture is driven by competition between producers, which only escalates costs further.

Turning his attention to the creative side of the business, Bhandarkar praised the level of commitment seen in recent standout performances. He lauded Ranveer Singh for his work in the film Dhurandhar, noting that the actor dedicated years to the role. Bhandarkar expressed concern that many in the industry shy away from difficult or unconventional subjects. He suggested that bold films like Pushpa or Animal might have been rejected by many Mumbai actors due to a lack of conviction or an over-critical approach to the scripts. He specifically commended Ranbir Kapoor for recognizing the potential in Animal and delivering a successful performance where others might have focused on perceived flaws.

Bhandarkar concluded by stating that while certain bigger players currently dictate the industry's direction, a strong, collective stand is necessary to rectify the prevailing culture and ensure more sustainable filmmaking practices.