Shraddha Kapoor may reportedly take a different approach to her remuneration for her upcoming Ashneer Grover biopic. Instead of accepting the reported ₹20 crore acting fee, the actress is said to be considering joining the project as a producer and taking a stake in the film’s intellectual property rights (IPR).
The development comes as more Bollywood actors are reportedly exploring backend deals, where they accept a lower upfront payment in exchange for a share of a film’s profits or ownership rights.
Shraddha Kapoor May Choose a Producer Role
Shraddha is reportedly set to portray Madhuri Jain Grover, the wife of entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grover, in the upcoming biographical film.
According to a report by the Free Press Journal, Shraddha could choose to become one of the producers instead of taking the reported ₹20 crore acting fee. Under such an arrangement, she could receive a stake in the film’s IPR and potentially benefit financially if the project performs well.
The film is reportedly being written and directed by entrepreneur-screenwriter Rahul Mody, who has also been linked romantically with Shraddha.
However, details of Shraddha’s final remuneration and producer arrangement have not been officially confirmed.
What Is a Backend Deal in Bollywood?
A backend deal allows an actor to reduce their upfront remuneration while receiving a percentage of a film’s profits or intellectual property rights.
The model can be financially attractive when a film performs strongly. Rather than receiving a fixed amount regardless of the film’s performance, an actor with an ownership stake can potentially earn substantially more from theatrical revenue, streaming, satellite, music and other rights.
This approach is increasingly being discussed within the Hindi film industry as production costs and star fees come under greater scrutiny.
Akshay Kumar Has Reportedly Used a Similar Model
Akshay Kumar has also reportedly been associated with this type of arrangement for Welcome to the Jungle.
According to the Free Press Journal, reports initially suggested that Akshay received around ₹1.8 crore for the film. During a promotional event, however, the actor jokingly responded to questions about his remuneration by saying, “Why ₹1.8 cr? I’ve taken only ₹1, as my fee.”
Trade reports subsequently suggested that Akshay was involved in arranging financing and the sale of ancillary rights, including OTT, satellite and audio rights.
He was reportedly entitled to a significant share of the project, while his home banner and the producer were also said to hold portions of the project.
Reports further claimed that Akshay’s share could have resulted in earnings exceeding ₹35 crore if the film performed strongly, in addition to his initial fee.
Bollywood Stars Exploring Profit-Sharing Models
The traditional model of paying leading actors a large fixed fee upfront is increasingly being compared with revenue-sharing and IPR-based arrangements.
Several major Bollywood names, including Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, have been linked in reports to deals involving reduced upfront fees and participation in a film’s profits or intellectual property.
Such arrangements can potentially align an actor’s earnings more closely with a project’s commercial performance.
Shraddha Kapoor’s Reported Film Fees
Shraddha Kapoor is also reportedly receiving between ₹12 crore and ₹15 crore for Eetha.
For the Ashneer Grover biopic, reports had previously suggested that the actress could receive approximately ₹20 crore as her acting fee.
If the latest reports are accurate, she may instead choose a producer credit and take an ownership stake in the film’s IPR.
Such a move could give Shraddha a greater financial interest in the long-term performance of the project rather than limiting her earnings to a fixed upfront fee.
For now, Shraddha Kapoor’s reported producer role and the exact structure of her remuneration remain unconfirmed. An official announcement from the actress, filmmakers or production team is awaited.
