Hollywood icon Meryl Streep famously doubled her salary for The Devil Wears Prada. Fox initially offered her two million dollars. Streep felt the offer was insulting. She asked for four million dollars instead. The studio agreed immediately, as it knew the demand made total sense. They knew the film could not work without her presence, and so they had to give into her reasonable demand. The gamble paid off and the movie became a massive global hit.
A similar drama recently unfolded in the Indian film industry. Deepika Padukone has exited the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. The superstar actress reportedly made exceptional demands that would have spiked the budget of Kalki 2. Rumors cite a requested fifty percent pay hike. She also reportedly asked for restricted eight-hour workdays. These demands were coupled with costs for a massive personal entourage.
Unlike Fox, the makers of Kalki decided to move forward alone. Vyjayanthi Movies and director Nag Ashwin officially confirmed the split last year. They cited a need for total commitment to the massive project. The studio believed the franchise could survive without its leading lady. Streep proved she was the engine of her film. Deepika Padukone found that in a franchise of this scale, the story remains the only true star.
