Madhur Bhandarkar reveals Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Tabu slashed their fees for Fashion, Heroine and Chandni Bar |

Madhur Bhandarkar recently revealed a fascinating detail about his collaborations with stars like Tabu and Priyanka Chopra. He shared that these actresses significantly reduced their fees to ensure the films were made without financial strain.
“Every female actor slashed her price when working with me,” Madhur told Bollywood Hungama. In fact, for Chandni Bar, Tabu agreed to a unique deal where she earned based on ticket sales, choosing not to charge any other fees for the film.

The filmmaker reflected on the modest Rs 1.5 crore budget for Chandni Bar, highlighting how Tabu accepted payment only from the Bombay or Delhi territory earnings. He also mentioned that actresses like Raveena Tandon, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, and Kareena Kapoor similarly reduced their fees for Satta, Corporate, Fashion, and Heroine. These actresses were committed to bringing these films to life, and recognizing the responsibility their roles carried, they opted not to charge their usual market rates, ensuring the projects could move forward within budget constraints.

During the conversation, Bhandarkar also addressed the escalating costs associated with actors’ entourages, emphasizing the need to control these expenses as they can significantly inflate a film’s budget. When asked about the cost of a star’s entourage, Madhur noted that he had never encountered excessive demands, explaining that these expenses typically align with the film’s overall budget.

The director, who has won National Film Awards for films like Traffic Signal, Page 3, and Chandni Bar, revealed plans for a sequel to his Priyanka Chopra-starrer Fashion. However, he’s undecided on whether to create a film or an OTT series. Madhur mentioned having enough material to extend the story across 2-3 seasons.