Actor R Madhavan recently shared his views on why Bollywood stars do not enjoy the same long-term financial security as Hollywood actors. He explained that in India, there is no system of residuals money that actors continue to receive when their films or shows earn revenue on television, streaming, or other platforms.
R Madhavan Highlights Bollywood’s Lack of Residuals
R Madhavan said that if such a system existed in India, he would already have enough wealth from just three of his blockbuster films 3 Idiots, Rang De Basanti, and Tanu Weds Manu to support his future generations. He added that Hollywood stars are often able to take bigger creative risks because they know they will keep earning from their past work.
In an interview, he was asked if Shah Rukh Khan’s decision to become a producer early in his career was the smartest move. Madhavan replied that while it worked for top stars like Shah Rukh, the same strategy cannot apply to actors in the lower levels of the industry, who do not enjoy similar financial security. According to him, the biggest stars can afford to take such risks because they earn very high salaries.
Aurra Bhatnagar Supports Gaurav Khanna After Black Paint Incident on Bigg Boss 19 Reality Show
Madhavan also pointed out another challenge: actors get used to a certain lifestyle and feel pressured to maintain it. Since there is no guaranteed pension or residual income in India, many actors choose safe projects simply to earn money for survival. He said, “When you know there is no pension, you start thinking, ‘Take the money now, who knows what will come tomorrow?’”
Follow for more Updates. Join Our Telegram Channel
He also mentioned how contracts are often not fully respected in the industry, and payments are sometimes delayed or faulty. Without legal backing, actors hesitate to challenge such practices. Madhavan strongly believes that if residuals were introduced in India, actors would have more creative freedom and could choose projects based on passion instead of financial pressure.
He gave the example of veteran actor Amrish Puri, who still receives residual payments from his work in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones movie. Similarly, actor Adil Hussain has shared how he continues to get residuals for his small role in Star Trek: Discovery.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
