In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through the film industry, veteran producer Shailendra Singh has shared a blunt critique of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. Speaking in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Singh described the actor as a “money-minded” professional who prioritizes financial strategy over the craft of cinema, stating, “He is a businessman first, then an actor.”
The comments come as Singh reflected on the massive financial fallout from the 2009 psychological thriller 8 x 10 Tasveer. Despite the high expectations surrounding the project at the time, the film famously bombed, resulting in a reported loss of ₹85 crore for the production house.
According to Singh, the friction began when the film failed to attract audiences. In the interview, Singh recalled approaching the actor to request a partial refund of his acting fee to help mitigate the staggering losses. “I told him, ‘Bro, nobody came to watch your film. You have to take some responsibility. You took a lot of money from me,’” Singh shared.
However, the producer claims that Kumar refused to return any portion of his payment. This incident was so discouraging that Singh admitted it played a major role in his decision to step away from film production entirely.
Singh didn’t just stop at the refund dispute; he also pulled back the curtain on how Akshay Kumar allegedly negotiates his contracts. He described a calculated “step-by-step” approach to fee hike the actor starts with a base figure (e.g., ₹15 crore). The price gradually climbs to ₹21 crore, then ₹27 crore.Singh noted that the fee often lands on a number related to Kumar’s lucky number, 9—such as ₹36 crore—casually added during final talks.
“He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Singh remarked, acknowledging that while Kumar is a “lovely guy” to play sports with, his approach to the movie business is strictly transactional.
While the Khiladi star has not responded directly to Singh’s latest comments, he has addressed similar “money-minded” labels in the past. During an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, Kumar defended his earnings, stating
“If I’ve earned money, I haven’t looted anyone. I’ve earned it by working hard. For years, I have been one of the highest taxpayers in the country.”
The debate highlights a long-standing tension in Bollywood between creative risk and the “star system” fees that often remain fixed regardless of a film’s box-office performance. While some see Kumar’s approach as a disciplined business model in a volatile industry, others, like Singh, argue it places an unfair burden on producers. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
