Budget plays an important role in film-making: Sajid Nadiadwala

While the success of a film depends a lot on the story as well as the cast of the movie, the budget also plays an instrumental role. In 2014, 2 States, which was made on a budget of Rs 25 crore, became a blockbuster after it grossed Rs 110 crore at the box office.

While the success of a film depends a lot on the story as well as the cast of the movie, the budget also plays an instrumental role. In 2014, 2 States, which was made on a budget of Rs 25 crore, became a blockbuster after it grossed Rs 110 crore at the box office. Similarly, Heropanti (2014) was made for Rs 15 crore, but it earned around Rs 55 crore. Also, Highway (2014) was made on a budget of Rs 9 crore and it earned Rs 30 crore.

Sajid Nadiadwala explaining a shot to Nawazuddin Siddiqui during the shoot of Kick (2014).

Sajid Nadiadwala’s upcoming film, Phantom, which features Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif, is rumoured to have been made on a budget of Rs 40 crore. He explains, “Last year, films like Highway, Heropanti or 2 States worked because they were cost-effective.So, the budget plays an important role in film-making today.”

Sajid feels that smart budgeting is an important requisite for producing movies. “Also, it’s important to have a great team. I want to credit my team, as they worked on (low to mid budget) films like Highway, Heropanti and Phantom on one hand, and pulled off a biggie like Kick (2014) on the other,” he says.

The film-maker, who directed Kick, says that the team of Phantom helped him plan the film’s budget smartly. “It has been done very intelligently, thanks to Kabir (Khan; director) and my EPs (executive producers). Although they filmed in around six countries, and about eight [international] cities, it was all intelligently planned. Everything worked out well,” says Sajid.

He adds that actors also contribute to the smart budgeting of a film. “I also want to credit the actors. People have realised that films like Phantom have different remuneration structures. I am glad that actors like Saif and Katrina, and even Kabir as a director, were really cooperative. And above all, having partners like Siddharth Roy Kapur and his team, gives us the courage to green-light a film like this (Phantom),” he says.

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