He was one of Bollywood's highest paid actors but had no driver, drove his own car. He just had one makeup artist for himself

A lot of big stars in Bollywood have recently come under heavy criticism for becoming a burden on producers by increasing expenses. In a chat with Komal Nahta, superstar Aamir Khan slammed many stars for having a large entourage and expecting the producer to bear their costs.

Contrasting today’s extravagant star culture, veteran actor Amrish Puri stood out as an embodiment of discipline and humility. Known for his powerful performances and commanding screen presence, Puri remained remarkably simple and self-sufficient even after achieving immense fame as one of Indian cinema’s most iconic villains and character actors.

Speaking to ANI, actor Saurabh Shukla reminisced about his experience working with Puri during the 2001 hit Nayak: The Real Hero, starring Anil Kapoor. Shukla admitted that meeting Puri shattered his preconceived notions of stardom. He had assumed that established stars were always surrounded by assistants and glam squads, but Puri proved to be the complete opposite.

A Lesson in Simplicity and Self-Reliance

Recounting his experience, Shukla revealed that Amrish Puri preferred minimalism both in lifestyle and work. Despite being one of the highest-paid supporting actors of his time—reportedly charging just one rupee more than the lead actor—he maintained no secretary, no driver, and only one makeup artist. When Shukla asked him why he didn’t keep a larger staff, Puri humorously replied that it made no sense to earn hard and then spend it all on employees. He emphasized independence, even driving himself to film sets and public events.

"Amrish Puri used to charge one rupee more than the lead actor in his films. This shows he was such a big star, but he didn’t have a secretary, and he didn’t have a driver. He had just a make-up man, that’s all. I asked him, ‘Don’t you have a staff?’ He responded, ‘Main pagal hoon kya? Paise main kamao aur banta rahoon staff mein (Am I mad that I earn all my money and distribute it to the staff?). That is the reason I have come to this interview driving my own car, and I don’t go with an entourage'” he reminisced.

In Komal Nahta's podcast, Khan observed that many celebrities today insist on traveling with massive entourages—ranging from personal chefs and trainers to assistants and multiple vanity vans—all of which are billed to the production. Khan clarified that while it is reasonable for producers to pay for essential professionals like makeup artists, hair stylists, and costume designers, personal staff such as drivers or cooks should not fall under the producer’s budget. He condemned the habit as an exploitation of one’s stardom, arguing that this practice distorts professionalism and strains film finances unnecessarily.