Amitabh Bachchan Waives Fees and Covers Own Travel for Eklavya

Amitabh Bachchan Did 'Eklavya' for Free; Director Refused to Pay for Hotel and Plane Costs

Amitabh Bachchan, renowned for his professionalism and discipline on set, made a remarkable gesture during the filming of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's *Eklavya: The Royal Guard*. The veteran actor not only waived his acting fee but also covered his own expenses for accommodation and travel, including chartering a private plane.

Chopra, who was managing the film's tight budget, declined Bachchan's request for a private plane to travel from Rajasthan to Mumbai, citing cost constraints. Undeterred, Bachchan paid for the flight himself and even offered Chopra and his wife, Anupama Chopra, a ride on the plane. Reflecting on the incident in the book *Unscripted: Conversations on Life and Cinema*, Chopra shared, “I hadn’t paid Amitabh for the film, yet he gave me one of my first private plane rides.”

Bachchan also covered the cost of his hotel stay after his team requested accommodations that exceeded the assigned budget by Rs 65,000. In gratitude for the actor's generosity, Chopra later gifted him a Rolls-Royce worth Rs 4.5 crore.

While the shoot faced logistical challenges, including a tight 37-day schedule and the use of two cameras—uncommon at the time—there were also personal tensions between Bachchan and Chopra. On the first few days of shooting, Bachchan arrived late, causing Chopra to miss critical morning light for key shots. Frustrated, Chopra even considered replacing Bachchan with Sanjay Dutt, who was already part of the cast. However, the situation was resolved after a candid exchange between the two. Bachchan explained that delays were due to the lengthy process of applying his costume and beard, which required hours of preparation.

Chopra addressed the issue by instructing the make-up team to improve hygiene, as Bachchan had complained about the unpleasant smell during the application process. The next day, Bachchan arrived on set an hour early, stating, “I don’t like to be shouted at, sir. I was playing it safe.”

Despite the initial hurdles, Bachchan's portrayal of Eklavya left a lasting impression on Chopra. The filmmaker revealed that the character was inspired by the actor himself, particularly his ability to keep emotions bottled up. This trait was highlighted during a car ride when Bachchan remarked, “Everything stays inside here! All bottled up. It doesn’t come out.” Chopra used this insight to shape the lead character of the film.

*Eklavya: The Royal Guard* stands as a testament to Bachchan's dedication and generosity, both on and off-screen.