'Three films could feed generations': R Madhavan opens up about why Indian actors have to play it safe

R Madhavan has opened up about one of the most overlooked issues in the Hindi film industry: the absence of residuals. Speaking to Akshaye Rathi, the actor explained how this lack of ongoing earnings keeps actors financially insecure and forces them to be risk-averse in choosing projects.

In Hollywood, stars continue to earn from their past work through residuals, giving them the freedom to take creative risks without worrying about financial stability. Madhavan pointed out that if a similar system existed in India, he could comfortably provide for generations from just three of his blockbuster films: 3 Idiots, Rang De Basanti, and Tanu Weds Manu.

“Stars in India often build a lifestyle that they must maintain, but there’s no pension or ongoing income from past work. That’s why actors often say ‘take the money now, we don’t know when the next one will come,’” Madhavan said.


He stressed that the financial structure at the top tier of Bollywood is vastly different. While A-list stars like Shah Rukh Khan can afford to turn producer early in their careers to secure profits, many actors at the lower rungs of the industry lack such security.

“The upper echelon can take risks because they have already secured their future. But for the majority, financial uncertainty forces them to be cautious,” he explained.

Madhavan also highlighted the issue of faulty payments and weak contract enforcement, noting that many actors do not challenge discrepancies due to a lack of time and resources.

Madhavan recalled a story from Hollywood: “Even Mr Amrish Puri, who worked in a Steven Spielberg film, continues to earn residuals. That’s the kind of security actors in Hollywood enjoy. If I were in a similar system, two or three films would be enough to support my generations if they lived sensibly.”

Residuals, he explained, function like royalties, rewarding everyone involved in a film or show whenever it earns revenue from television, streaming, or other platforms. Actor Adil Hussain, in a previous interview with Cyrus Broacha, shared a similar experience from Hollywood. His small guest role in Star Trek: Discovery continues to earn him money every few months, sometimes up to $5,000–6,000, despite being just a three-episode stint.

Inputs from agencies