Weighing in on the simmering conversation around overhead costs blowing up film budgets, actor-singer Ammy Virk feels that the size of film units in Bollywood can be brought down. Virk, who has starred in Hindi films such as 83 and Bhuj: The Pride Of India (2021), is of the view that a film doesn’t need 100 people on set unless a scene needs it.

“Maine feel kiya hai, wahan pe bahut zyada log hote hain, zarurat se zyada. Ab bhi agar aap Punjab mein jaao toh aapko 250-300 banda dikhega set pe, which becomes 500 on a set in Mumbai. Sometimes, when an action sequence or a song is being shot, you need more people,” says the actor, who has produced Punjabi films such as Oye Makhna, Sher Bagga and Aaja Mexico Challiye (all 2022), adding, “If it’s a normal shoot at home, 100-115 people are enough.”

The focus on production cost management has also highlighted actors’ large entourages that often come with leading stars. Virk says it’s happens in Punjabi films, too, but isn’t a regular practice.

“Sometimes, 10-20 people come with artistes and I have seen that in our Punjab as well. It might be that these people are working but the team’s budget rises as a result and so does the film’s cost,” notes Virk, who recently starred in the film Kudi Haryane Val Di (Chori Haryane Aali in Haryanvi) alongside Sonam Bajwa.