The girl-next-door, Amrita Rao, made her Bollywood debut in 2002 with the movie Ab ke…
10 Bollywood Stars and Their Special Clauses In Their Contracts
10) Sunny Leone
The gorgeous Sunny Leone had given some really steamy performances in her movies, for example Jism 2 and One Night Stand. After these movies, she added to her clauses that she won’t be getting involved in any on-screen kissing henceforth. The actress doesn’t mind doing intimate scenes but with her ‘no-kissing’ clause. [ads1]
10 Bollywood Stars and Their Non-Negotiable Clauses In Their Contracts
In the world of Bollywood, a movie contract is often more than just a piece of paper detailing a fee and dates. For the industry’s biggest stars, who wield significant influence, their contracts frequently include highly specific, sometimes quirky, and often non-negotiable clauses that dictate everything from their on-screen comfort to their work-life balance. These special demands offer a fascinating glimpse into the personal boundaries and professional power of the A-list elite.
These clauses range from maintaining a family-first schedule to strict personal policies regarding intimate scenes, effectively shaping the narrative of a star’s career and occasionally adding a logistical challenge for filmmakers.
Here is a look at 10 Bollywood stars and the special, often talked-about clauses that find their way into their movie contracts.
The Big Four: Clauses on Intimacy, Health, and Time
1. Salman Khan: The ‘No On-Screen Kissing’ Rule
Salman Khan is famously known for his iron-clad “No Kissing and No Intimacy” clause in his film contracts. This long-standing policy means the superstar has consistently refrained from performing lip-locks or explicit intimate scenes on the big screen throughout his career, often leaving directors to find creative ways to shoot romantic moments. For instance, even in a movie like Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, a kissing scene with his co-star, Disha Patani, was reportedly modified so that her lips were covered with tape, allowing him to maintain his no-kissing policy. The rare exception to this clause was a reported peck with Karisma Kapoor in the 1996 film Jeet, though some fans debate if it was a kiss on the chin.
2. Shah Rukh Khan: No Horse Riding Scenes
The ‘King Khan’ of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, reportedly includes a “No Horse Riding” clause in his contracts. This cautious demand stems from a serious back injury he sustained early in his career during the shooting of the film Baazigar. Due to this old injury, the actor is said to be extremely wary of performing scenes that involve horse riding, prioritising caution over physical risk on set.
3. Akshay Kumar: The ‘No Sunday’ Policy
Known for his incredible discipline and a famously punctual work ethic, Akshay Kumar also puts a high value on his personal time. His well-known contractual clause dictates “No Shooting on Sundays.” This non-negotiable condition ensures the versatile actor gets a dedicated day off every week to spend quality time with his family, highlighting his commitment to a healthy work-life balance.
4. Aamir Khan: Full Script, No Low-Angle Shots
Aamir Khan, often dubbed ‘Mr. Perfectionist,’ is known for his meticulous approach, which extends directly to his contracts. One of his key clauses is the demand for the complete, bound script before signing, hating the concept of working with just a half-script or idea. Additionally, he reportedly insists on a clause for the avoidance of low-angle shots in his films. He believes these angles can distort facial features and negatively impact the overall portrayal of the character, a preference that dates back to his 1995 collaboration with director Ram Gopal Varma.
Power, Pay, and Professional Boundaries
5. Priyanka Chopra: The ‘No Nudity’ Clause
As one of the few Indian actors to successfully transition and make a significant mark in Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been vocal about maintaining professional boundaries. She reportedly incorporates a clause in her contracts, especially her international projects, that explicitly states a “No Nudity” policy. This decision is a reflection of her commitment to maintaining a certain sense of dignity and personal comfort in her on-screen portrayals. Furthermore, she once revealed her outrage over a corporate contract early in her career that included a “no-pregnancy” clause, a highly discriminatory condition she argued against and had terminated.
6. Deepika Padukone: The 8-Hour Work Shift
In a move that has sparked widespread debate in the film industry, Deepika Padukone reportedly began requesting a contract clause for a limited 8-hour daily work shift. This demand, particularly following her motherhood, is a push towards better work-life balance in an industry notorious for 14-to-16-hour workdays. While not always accommodated, this request from one of the industry’s highest-paid actresses highlights a growing conversation about professional working conditions and parity for women in cinema.
7. Hrithik Roshan: The Personal Fitness Demands
Hrithik Roshan, renowned for his Greek God physique and dedication to fitness, ensures his health regime travels with him. His special contract clauses often reportedly demand the provision of the best gym or a fully-equipped portable gym at his shooting location. In addition to the extensive gym facilities, he also insists on having his personal chef accompany him everywhere to ensure his strict, tailored diet is maintained, regardless of the film’s location.
8. Kareena Kapoor Khan: The ‘No Intimate Kissing’ Stance
After her marriage to Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan reportedly added a clause to her movie contracts specifying no intimate kissing scenes with her co-stars. While she had a more flexible policy earlier in her career, the ‘no kissing’ clause became a significant boundary she preferred to maintain in her post-marriage cinematic choices, reflecting a personal comfort level. Though she has occasionally made exceptions, her preference for non-intimate portrayals remains a notable part of her contractual negotiations.
The Specific and the Controversial
9. Sonakshi Sinha: Strict ‘No-Intimacy’ Stance
Similar to the Khan superstars, actress Sonakshi Sinha maintains a very firm “No-Intimacy” clause in her contracts. The actress is particular about avoiding explicit or mouth-to-mouth kissing and intimate scenes on-screen. She has consistently made her discomfort with such scenes clear to filmmakers, choosing to uphold this professional boundary throughout her career.
10. Ranveer Singh: The Multiple Vanity Van Demand
In a trend criticised by industry veterans like Aamir Khan (see point 4), some top stars demand luxurious on-set perks, and Ranveer Singh is often cited for his extensive requirements. Reports suggest that for a shoot schedule, Ranveer Singh may require three separate vanity vans: one for his personal use, one specifically set up as a personal gym, and one for his private chef. While vanity vans are standard, demanding multiple specialised vans for personal luxury and staff is a reflection of his star power and a growing, costly trend in Bollywood production.
These contractual riders are more than just celebrity whims; they are an assertion of professional status, a defence of personal comfort, and a means of controlling their public image. From Salman Khan’s commitment to a family-friendly image to Deepika Padukone’s quiet revolution for better work hours, these non-negotiable clauses underscore the power dynamic between Bollywood’s biggest stars and the studios that seek to cast them. In the end, a star’s contract tells a story about their brand, their health, and their boundaries in an industry that demands everything.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: Why do Bollywood stars have ‘no-kissing’ clauses in their contracts?
A: The “no-kissing” clause, most famously adopted by actors like Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, is generally a personal and professional choice to maintain a family-friendly, conservative public image. In a cultural context where on-screen intimacy can be scrutinised, this clause ensures the actor’s comfort level and keeps their brand acceptable to a wider, often traditional, audience demographic.
Q2: What is Akshay Kumar’s famous contract clause related to his schedule?
A: Akshay Kumar is famous for his “No Shooting on Sundays” clause in his film contracts. This strict condition allows him to dedicate a fixed day off every week to spend with his family, which he maintains as a non-negotiable part of his commitment to work-life balance.
Q3: What demands does Hrithik Roshan reportedly include regarding his fitness on set?
A: To maintain his physique, Hrithik Roshan’s contracts reportedly include demands for the provision of either the best available gym in the town or a fully-equipped portable gym at the shooting location. He also often insists on having his personal chef accompany him to ensure his specialised diet is strictly adhered to.
Q4: Why did Shah Rukh Khan include a ‘no horse riding’ clause in his contracts?
A: Shah Rukh Khan reportedly includes a clause to avoid scenes involving horse riding due to a severe back injury he sustained early in his career during the shooting of the film Baazigar. This is a precautionary measure to prevent any further physical complications.
Q5: What is the significance of Deepika Padukone’s reported 8-hour shift demand?
A: Deepika Padukone’s reported request for a contractual 8-hour workday represents a modern push for gender and work-life balance in the Hindi film industry. This demand, particularly as a working mother, seeks to normalise more standard, less exhausting working hours, challenging the industry’s tradition of excessively long shoot schedules.
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