Saif on KJO’s ‘stars can’t guarantee hits’ comment: He wants to take a pay cheque cut
Saif Ali Khan discussed the sustainability of high salaries of actors in the film industry at the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024, responding to Karan Johar’s comments on the issue.

Actor-producer Saif Ali Khan commented on director and producer Karan Johar’s “stars can’t guarantee hits” comment at the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024. Joking that Karan was talking about taking a pay cheque, the actor explained that many producers pay huge sums to stars on demand. However, he also said that stars who take too much money and do not work cannot last long in the industry.
When anchor Rahul Kanwal talked about Karan Johar’s comment about how stars charge Rs 40 crore for a film but can’t even guarantee Rs 3.5 crore at the box office, Saif Ali Khan laughed and said , “He wants to take a pay check cut. I think I should do that.” I have my own association on this. I’m sure he’s right, but I get a little nervous when we hear about pay check cuts.
Complete coverage of Conclave Mumbai 2024
He further added, “Well, the economics of our industry (is like that). That’s what happens – you go to a star, sometimes they say ‘Hey, if you want me, this is what it will cost.’ People pay it and if people pay it, sometimes the economics go haywire. But, Indians are businessmen. So the film industry itself is a business kind of financial centre and people know it better. I am just joking.”
Saif Ali Khan also told in the conclave“What he (Karan Johar) is talking about is that people charge too much and then don’t deliver, which can’t last long. We don’t charge that much, we are recession-proof.”
On the work front, Saif Deora all set to debut in Telugu with Part 1In which he is playing the character of Bhairav. This film will be released in theaters on September 27.