Hello Bollywood, why this Rs 300 cr obsession?

Superstars are constantly harping about how their films are pitched at unrealistic figures

- Krishnan M

Bollywood A-listers—filmmakers and actors—are anal about their film budgets being ‘huge’.

More adamant than the actresses are about their hourglass figures, and ‘B’-grade celebs are about their social media followers. Even in casual, off-the-record conversations, an A-lister will quietly slip in how his next ‘magnum opus’ costs Rs 300 crore. And, though they pretend that they are casually slipping in this 'privileged' information to you, you are expected to make a mental note of it and use it to “measure” the actor's stardom!

Guys, please get realistic. Bollywood is going through a near-existential crisis. If you put checks and balances in place, you will realise that the success margin of Indian cinema in the first six months of 2026 is abysmal. So, please stop throwing this ‘imaginary’ budget around just to impress the media.

Take a look at the recent examples where “Rs 300 crore” was reportedly asked for by filmmakers/actors:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War—with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal—is reportedly costing Rs 300 crore plus. This is kind of understandable because SLB has always been an expensive filmmaker. He is lavish in his setting, and he is a compulsive reshooter. Not to forget, RK, Alia and Vicky don't come cheap.