Bollywood’s Vanity Van Obsession: From 6 to 11 Vans, Directors Spill the Truth
The world of Bollywood often dazzles fans with red carpets, luxury lifestyles, and behind-the-scenes glamour. But few know about the hidden costs that producers bear to keep their stars comfortable on set. Recently, filmmakers Sanjay Gupta, Rakesh Roshan, and choreographer-director Farah Khan opened up about the rising entourage culture in the industry — and their revelations are nothing short of shocking.
Sanjay Gupta’s Shocking Anecdote: Star Fired for Six Vanity Vans
Sanjay Gupta, the filmmaker behind hits like Shootout at Wadala and Kaante, recalled a jaw-dropping incident on Cyrus Broacha’s podcast. According to him, a Bollywood star who had signed a South Indian film arrived at the shooting location with six vanity vans shipped overnight from Mumbai.
The producer, completely blindsided, was furious when he realized that a bill of nearly ₹18 lakh would land on his desk just for the actor’s entourage. Gupta shared, “The producer told him to return to Mumbai, pretending the location wasn’t available for a few days. But as soon as the star boarded his flight, the producer scrapped the film. He said, ‘We don’t work like this. You can’t just bring six vans and hand us the bill.’”
When 11 Vans Arrived for a Bollywood Couple
In the same conversation, Sanjay Gupta also revealed how some star couples push the limits further, demanding as many as 11 separate vanity vans.
Breaking down the excess, Gupta said that some actors keep different vans for personal space, makeup and hair, gym, meetings, and even a private kitchen. For couples, the number doubles because both spouses want separate spaces — including two separate kitchen vans.
“They’re husband and wife, but still they want different food vans,” Gupta quipped, pointing out how such demands bloat production costs. Amidst this extravagance, Gupta praised veterans like Amitabh Bachchan, who never bills producers for his staff and still works with just a spot boy and makeup artist. “Mr. Bachchan says, ‘It’s my staff, not the producer’s responsibility.’ That’s why he remains unmatched,” Gupta said.
Rakesh Roshan’s Sleepless Night Over Nine Vans
Adding to the debate, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan recalled an incident shared by actress Simi Garewal. A Bollywood couple had demanded nine vanity vans for a shoot, leaving him deeply worried.
Roshan admitted, “I couldn’t sleep that night. I kept wondering if even Hrithik had started demanding so many vans. The next morning, I called his driver and asked how many vans we usually use. When he said, ‘Just one,’ I finally breathed easy.”
He further revealed that in his early days, vanity vans weren’t even common on sets. It was only during Kaabil (2017) that he allowed them for the first time.
Farah Khan Slams the Culture of Excess
Echoing similar concerns, choreographer-director Farah Khan has repeatedly criticized Bollywood’s growing entourage culture. She highlighted how some actors refuse to start work unless their four personal vans arrive — one for themselves, one for their staff, one for gym equipment, and another for food.
“An actress brings nine people, an actor brings eight. It’s a waste of resources, and it doesn’t even reflect on screen. Producers end up paying the price,” she said in a candid interview.
A Costly Trend That Needs Rethinking
What started as a luxury has now become a mandatory demand for many stars, with costs running into lakhs per day. For an industry already reeling from box office uncertainty, such habits raise questions about sustainability.
While legends like Amitabh Bachchan set an example of humility, newer stars continue to raise eyebrows with their extravagant entourages. As Gupta, Roshan, and Farah’s stories reveal, the real drama in Bollywood isn’t just on the big screen — sometimes, it’s parked right outside in a fleet of vanity vans.
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