Rajkummar Rao Slams Bollywood’s Bloated Entourages: ‘Get Your Own Coffee’

AKD 3 min read

By [Staff Writer] | October 9, 2026

As Bollywood grapples with a prolonged box-office slump, a heated debate has erupted over the staggering costs of celebrity entourages — and actor Rajkummar Rao has now weighed in with a pointed message to his peers.

In an interview with Mashable India, Rao revealed that his own team has remained remarkably lean throughout his career, standing in stark contrast to the sprawling ensembles that have come under fire in recent years.

“My entourage was never that big to begin with. For a long time, I only had three people with me — one for hair, one for makeup and the third is my personal assistant. I added a fourth person a few years back for security,” Rao said.

The actor’s comments come amid growing scrutiny of the industry’s excesses. Entourage costs — alongside astronomical star fees — have been blamed for draining producers’ finances as Hindi cinema struggles to deliver consistent hits. Veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah has previously recounted witnessing assistants carry stars’ coffee cups, while director-choreographer Farah Khan noted that some actors demand vanity vans equipped for private chefs.

Rao made clear where he stands. “I think you should be a producer’s actor, and I have been one since the beginning of my career. If you don’t want to do something forcefully, don’t do it. If someone [the producer] is paying you, then you can get your own coffee. Why would you want the producer to pay for that as well? If you feel like eating something special, order it on your own. You don’t have to ask the producer for everything.”

The actor is currently preparing for the release of Prahaar, a legal drama directed by Avinash Arun in which he portrays renowned special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The film explores Nikam’s role in the legal battles surrounding the 1993 Bombay bombings and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Prahaar — which also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikandar Kher — is set to hit theatres on October 16.

On the ‘AI Poster’ Controversy

Rao also addressed the backlash surrounding the first-look poster for Dada, his upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic, which drew criticism for appearing “AI-generated.” He acknowledged the misstep while striking a measured tone on artificial intelligence.

“The ones who made it, they learnt the lesson that they shouldn’t have rushed it. Take your time, there’s no hurry. I think the team learnt their lesson. But they also learnt another thing with this, that Dada has a crazy fan following,” he said.

On the broader implications of AI in filmmaking, the actor urged caution. “Technology has pros and cons. AI will come; you can’t stop it but we should use it as a supporting tool. You can’t be totally dependent on it. And I don’t want that to happen because lakhs of livelihoods can get affected by it. You can’t recreate everything sitting in a room. You can’t replace it with human emotion.”

With Prahaar releasing next week and Dada on the horizon, Rao’s comments position him as a rare voice advocating restraint and responsibility in an industry under mounting financial pressure.