Rising entourage costs have become one of Bollywood’s most talked-about issues, and the debate doesn’t seem to be dying down anytime soon. Recently, actor Ahan Shetty’s long absence from the big screen reignited the discussion, with rumours suggesting that his alleged high entourage expenses made producers hesitant to work with him.
After making his debut in Tadap (2021), Ahan took nearly five years to return to films, finally signing Border 2. During this gap, speculation grew that producers had backed off because of the costs associated with his entourage.
Now, his father Suniel Shetty has firmly shut down those claims.
Suniel Shetty reacts to rumours about Ahan’s entourage costs
Following Tadap, Ahan was reportedly set to star in Sanki, a film backed by Sajid Nadiadwala. However, the project was eventually shelved. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the producer allegedly reconsidered the film after being confronted with Ahan’s entourage expenses, which were said to have been charged to the production.
Addressing these reports in a recent conversation with Lehren Retro, Suniel Shetty dismissed the allegations outright. The senior actor said his son has never gone overboard with entourage demands and called the claims nothing more than convenient rumours.
Taking a firm stand, Suniel challenged the narrative, saying that if anyone could actually produce a bill to support these claims, he would accept it. Otherwise, he made it clear that such stories were unfair to his son.
“This is where the father steps in — very clearly,” Suniel said. “Don’t spread lies to hide your weaknesses. It’s not fair to Ahan.”
The Border actor further added that Ahan is extremely mindful about his entourage and, even when needed, is willing to bear the costs himself. Emphasising that his son is still new to the industry, Suniel said this phase is about learning and settling in, not making demands.
“There are no tantrums. Ho hi nahi sakta (It’s just not possible),” he added.
Why Ahan Shetty stayed away from films for five years
Earlier, in an interview with Mid-Day, Ahan Shetty had explained that his long break had nothing to do with a lack of offers. The 30-year-old actor revealed that he was contractually bound to Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, which restricted him from signing other projects for nearly four years.
Despite receiving multiple offers during that period, Ahan said he couldn’t move forward with them due to the agreement — a factor that largely explains his delayed return to the big screen.