Shahid Kapoor has long been acknowledged for his acting prowess, but his consistent ability to draw audiences to theaters has been a topic of debate. The recent release of Deva has reignited discussions about the Bollywood star system and the industry’s approach to actor remuneration. This raises an important question: Can an actor with a single blockbuster command the same fees and privileges as veterans who have delivered consistent box office successes over decades?
Shahid Kapoor’s Filmography: A Box Office Analysis
Examining Shahid Kapoor’s filmography before 2019, reveals a career marked by both hits and misses. Despite being in the industry for over two decades, only a handful of his films have surpassed the ₹50 crore mark at the box office. Notable among them are:
- R… Rajkumar (2013): Lifetime collection of ₹66 crore.
- Haider (2014): Lifetime collection of ₹56 crore.
- Udta Punjab (2016): Lifetime collection of ₹60 crore.
A significant turning point in his career was Kabir Singh (2019), a remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film was a massive success, amassing approximately ₹278 crore in Indian Box-office. This unprecedented success led to a perception shift regarding Shahid Kapoor’s box office potential. However, subsequent films did not replicate this success, and did not do well with Jersey (2022) Collected ₹20 crore, deemed a flop. and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) Garnered ₹82 crore, considered a moderate success. We have excluded ‘Padmaavat(300 cr)’ from the list because It had Ranveer Singh as a leading star.
The Impact of Kabir Singh’s Success
Following the success of Kabir Singh, a perception was build that he is now in the big league and reports indicated that Shahid Kapoor increased his fee to ₹40 crore per film. This move highlights a broader trend within the Bollywood star system, where actors, after a single hit, demand salaries comparable to established superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Degn and Akshay Kumar. This practice often leads to an unsustainable financial model, with escalating production costs not always matched by box office returns. In Shahid Kapoor’s case, his career trajectory suggests that he is not a consistent crowd-puller. Out of his nearly 45-film career, only Kabir Singh has delivered an exceptional box office performance. Reports suggest that after Kabir Singh Shahid Kapoor charged ₹40 crore for Bloody Daddy, a film he signed with director Ali Abbas Zafar. Such high remuneration for films that did not perform well commercially raises concerns about the sustainability of such star pricing. But after the poor performance of ‘Jersey’ and ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ he reduced his fees to ₹25 crore for Deva.
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Deva: Challenges and Box Office Performance
Deva, released on January 31, 2025, was among the most anticipated films of the year. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, it is said, that the film is a remake of the 2013 Malayalam film Mumbai Police. The production faced several challenges, including reports of a strained working relationship between Shahid Kapoor and the director, leading to a prolonged production period of over 3 years. Despite the anticipation, Deva had a lackluster opening, with morning show occupancy at just 5.87% and first day total of just over 3 crores.
The fate of the film remains uncertain, and it would be premature to judge its success based on the first day’s box office report. However, it is evident that there are significant issues with the star system in Bollywood. Shahid Kapoor is just one example of an actor who has been part of this ecosystem for a long time. Nowadays, younger actors are demanding exorbitant fees from producers, and talent management agencies are exacerbating the situation. Prominent producers like Karan Johar are feeling the pressure, as they question the new culture of high fees without corresponding audience pull.
Conclusion: Shahid Kapoor’s career exemplifies the unpredictability of the Bollywood star system. While his acting talent is undeniable, his status as a box office draw remains uncertain. The industry’s tendency to inflate star fees after a single hit has led to financial miscalculations, as evidenced by Deva‘s performance. As Bollywood evolves, it will be interesting to see how Shahid Kapoor and the broader industry adapt to these changing dynamics.
