In today’s Bollywood, the biggest movie budgets aren’t always spent on action scenes or massive sets. Instead, a surprising chunk of money goes into making stars look “perfect" every single day on set — while the people who actually write the story often earn a fraction of that amount.

The rising cost of glamour

According to industry insiders, hair and makeup professionals in Bollywood now take home over Rs 1 lakh per day, only for a single actor. And this doesn’t include the rest of the star’s entourage. For outdoor schedules, producers are said to cover first-class travel, luxury stays, and overtime bills — not only for the main stylists but also for their assistants. They need to be available at odd hours, often starting much earlier than the rest of the crew.

As a result, one star’s

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