Ratna Pathak Shah Calls Out Entourage Culture: ‘Producers Are Paying The Price’

Veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah has never shied away from voicing her honest opinions about the workings of the film industry. Known for her candid takes, she recently weighed in on the growing entourage system in Bollywood.

While she acknowledged that young actors may require security and a single point of coordination to manage their schedules, she questioned the need for large, expensive teams. According to her, such setups not only add financial pressure on producers but can also distance actors from their instincts and the creative process.

Ratna Pathak Shah On Entourage System In Bollywood In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ratna shared her thoughts on the financial and creative impact of the entourage system. She said, “I think it’s a waste

of time as far as I can see. But you can look at it like it’s running a lot of households. The entourage gets paid. The producer keeps crying. And if the film doesn’t work, he cries even more. But he remains hopeful that his film would do Rs 1000 crore this time, so even he stays mum.”

“It’s a self-feeding system that we’ve created. Once it bloats up beyond a point, that bubble will burst. We’ll have to wait till then I suppose because it seems people don’t want to make decisions individually right now. I can’t even decide what I want to wear. Someone else is shopping and accessorising for me. I don’t want this infantilisation of myself. I’ve lived 68 years. I don’t want to become a child again. That’s already happened,” added Ratna.

She went on to admit that she fails to see how a large entourage actually enhances an actor’s performance. At the same time, she pointed out what she perceives as a lack of commitment from certain crew members on set, including those in the costume department.

“They paid much more than today than what poor dress dadas got. And therefore, I get very upset. Why aren’t you giving it all?,” the actor said.

However, Ratna Pathak Shah admitted that it isn’t her responsibility to change anyone’s mindset. “So I keep my mouth shut. And I’ve learnt that also. And I’ve also learnt how it benefits anyone? Some people get it. Most don’t. Those who don’t, life will teach them slowly and surely. Why should I do all that hard work?” she shared.

Brand Manager’s Claims Against Allu Arjun’s Huge Entourage
The entourage debate has intensified not just in Hindi films, but in other industries as well. A brand manager recently claimed that Allu Arjun travels with a large team enforcing 42 strict rules, including avoiding eye contact and maintaining distance. She further alleged that her phone was taken away by his security.

However, the actor’s team has strongly denied the claims. “Certain recent comments made about Mr Allu Arjun are completely baseless and untrue. He has always conducted himself with the utmost dignity and honour. We take these false allegations seriously. Our legal team is initiating defamation proceedings against those responsible. We request everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information,” read the statement.