One often hears a discussion about the cost of the entourage of big stars and how it adds a burden to the producer. In a recent interview, veteran producer KC Bokadia criticized actors who charge a lot of money for a film and their teams. He still gave Amitabh Bachchanthe example and praised the actor for the way he conducts himself. The late 1980s and early 1990s were a challenging period in Amitabh Bachchan’s career. After moving away from films to enter politics in the mid-1980s, the superstar returned to cinema, but the great success he enjoyed during the 1970s did not immediately follow. It was during this time that producer KC Bokadia approached him for ‘Aaj Ka Arjun’ (1990), a film that became Bokadia’s directorial debut.Although Amitabh is no longer at the peak of his box office dominance, Bokadia says he remains one of the most respectful and honorable stars he has ever worked with. The veteran producer recalled that Amitabh never expected the producers to bear the cost of his personal staff. He said the superstar paid his own spot boy, make-up artist, driver and vanity van, even after becoming the first actor to charge him Rs 1 crore.“Amitabh is the first person in the industry whose spot boy, make-up man, driver… He doesn’t take money for them, even before. He brings his own van, his driver and I salute people like that. Actors charge crores of rupees but that doesn’t hurt the producer but if you ask Rs 10,000 for an assistant who, do you think, Rs 1,000? he said.Bokadia contrasted Bachchan’s approach with some actors today, claiming that many charge huge fees while also expecting producers to cover the costs of their entourages.“Today, actors are charging Rs 50-100 crore… They should be a little generous. Even the producer should feel that they are working with someone who has a big heart and is actually worth this much money,” he said and added, “If you burden the producer with unnecessary expenses… You are asking them to pay for a gym in vanity vans, and you think it is something that to be proud of?”He further argued that these rising costs make it difficult for independent producers to survive. According to him, some producers end up buying tickets for their own films to increase box office collections, because stronger numbers help secure better deals with streaming platforms.Reflecting on his first meeting with Amitabh, Bokadia revealed that he was initially told to wait outside the actor’s make-up room for hours. However, the meeting turned out to be surprisingly easy, with Bachchan agreeing to do the film immediately.“This is my first film as a director. He didn’t even listen to the story. I didn’t even have a story, and he said yes to ‘Aaj Ka Arjun’,” he said and added, “Bachchan saab said, ‘This is the first time I’m doing a film where I don’t know the story or the director’. I told him, ‘What can you do on screen that I can’t do, and what I can do to anyone, you can’t do in a story’ that fits. to you?'”After the success of ‘Aaj Ka Arjun’, the duo reunited for ‘Lal Baadshah’. Recalling their collaborations, Bokadia described Amitabh as a performer whose screen presence was always more important than external charm.“People worry too much about other things, like costumes, etc., but I feel what you do on screen, where the actor shines,” he said, before adding that Bachchan “is a lion, and always will be one.”Over the years, KC Bokadia has produced many famous films, including ‘Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam’, ‘Lal Baadshah’, ‘Aao Pyaar Karen’, ‘Phool Bane Angaarey’, ‘Naseeb Apna Apna’ and ‘Teri Meherbaniyan’.