Bollywood’s Budget Woes: Sejal Shah Blames Entourage Costs and Industry Trends for Film Failures
By Views Now Staff
Published: May 21, 2025, 07:33 PM IST
Published: May 21, 2025, 07:33 PM IST
Mumbai: In a candid revelation, Costao director Sejal Shah has pointed to escalating budgets—particularly the hefty costs of actors' entourages—as a significant reason behind the failure of many films in Bollywood. Speaking exclusively to DNA, the debut director didn’t hold back while addressing the financial hurdles that often overshadow creative storytelling in the Hindi film industry.
Shah, whose recently released biopic Costao starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been lauded for its meditative and internal narrative, highlighted the growing disconnect between budget allocation and artistic vision. “Films also fail because of budget,” she stated, emphasizing how the exorbitant expenses tied to star entourages eat into the resources meant for production quality and innovation. “The entourage accompanying actors adds unnecessary financial strain,” Shah added, echoing a sentiment that has become a hot topic in Bollywood circles.
The director’s comments come at a time when the Hindi film industry is grappling with a seismic shift in audience preferences and production dynamics. According to industry reports, mid-budget and content-driven films—once the backbone of Bollywood’s diverse output—have seen a 33% decline in releases between 2020 and 2024 (Wikipedia, 2025). This trend is largely attributed to the rise of OTT platforms, which have shifted their focus from supporting mid-budget gems to chasing star-driven vehicles that guarantee viewership numbers.
Shah, who previously backed critically acclaimed projects like Serious Men, Decoupled, and Asur 2, also reflected on the changing landscape of filmmaking during her earlier conversation with The New Indian Express on May 13, 2025. She noted that Bollywood’s obsession with formulaic heroism often overshadows the potential for raw, human-centric stories. “A lot of people saw Costao and expected more heroism, a happier, more dramatized ending. But I don’t see cinema like that. I like seeing flawed human beings on celluloid because, in life, people are flawed,” she had said.
The financial strain caused by star fees and entourage costs isn’t a new concern. A 2024 report by The Indian Express revealed how these expenses are “chewing up budgets,” leaving little room for other critical aspects like screenplay development and technical quality. This often results in films being sent back for budget revisions or scrapped altogether, further shrinking the space for mid-budget cinema.
Adding to the industry’s woes is the post-pandemic shift in viewing habits. As highlighted in a reflections.live report, audiences increasingly prefer the convenience of home viewing via OTT platforms, leading to a significant drop in theater footfall. This has hit mid-budget films the hardest, with many producers opting for direct-to-OTT releases to mitigate financial risks. However, even OTT platforms, once a beacon of hope for content-driven cinema, are now prioritizing star power over substance, leaving filmmakers like Shah in a challenging spot.
Shah’s remarks have sparked a broader conversation about the sustainability of Bollywood’s current model. With South Indian film industries like Telugu and Malayalam gaining ground through high-quality, story-driven films, Bollywood faces the risk of losing its traditional audience base. Industry experts argue that a return to content-driven cinema, coupled with better budget management, could be the way forward.
As Bollywood navigates these turbulent waters, voices like Sejal Shah’s serve as a reminder of the need for balance—between star power and storytelling, between budgets and creativity. Whether the industry will take heed remains to be seen, but for now, the struggle for mid-budget films continues to cast a shadow over Hindi cinema’s future.
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