Bollywood actors are usually paid a huge amounts when they sign a film, but there are times when they accept little or no remuneration for their films, just because they want that particular role, or due to their relationship with the filmmaker. Here are six actors who did not charge a penny for the films and songs they featured in.
Sonam Kapoor — Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Out of sheer belief in the script, Sonam Kapoor charged Rs 11 for her cameo in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, in his autobiography called The Stranger, revealed that the actor accepted to play a guest appearance as Biro. She praised the director and the team of the film for working on a story about the partition and the spirit of Milkha Singh.
Shahid Kapoor — Haider
Shahid Kapoor has always wanted to work with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj and when he got an offer for Haider, he wasted no time in thinking about it. Kapoor believed in the film and decided not to charge a single penny for his role. The film was a game-changer for the actor.
Rajkummar Rao — Trapped
Rajkummar Rao didn’t charge a penny for his role in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Trapped. On Arbaaz Khan’s chat show, the actor revealed that some movies are more special than others and said, “Some films are not meant for box office. They are meant for life. I’ll go from this world after 50 years or whatever but when people talk about 10 films of Rajkummar Rao, they will talk about Trapped.”
Amitabh Bachchan — Black
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the best actors in the industry. He is known for his kind nature and versatility. He didn’t take a fee for a number of films including Black opposite Rani Mukherjee, Paheli starring Shah Rukh Khan, The Great Gatsby, and Bol Bachchan. In a blog post from February 2017, dedicated to the film Black, the actor wrote, “I had just wanted to work with Sanjay, after seeing all the other works he had done… And when the opportunity came, it was quite overwhelming. I did not take any salary for the film… Just being a part of such an enterprise was sufficient fees!”
Deepika Padukone — Om Shanti Om
Deepika Padukone’s debut film Om Shanti Om was a massive hit. The actor did her role at no cost as she always wanted to work with Shah Rukh Khan and when that happened, that was enough for her.
Shah Rukh Khan — Bhoothnath Returns
Shah Rukh Khan is a superstar and they usually charge a heavy fee for their films. King Khan, however, did not accept any renumeration for his extended role in Bhoothnath Returns.
