“Superstars are overvalued … tum fees kyon le rahe ho? Matlab, then you should have equity,” says Ashneer Grover calling out Bollywood stars

Ashneer Grover, co-founder of BharatPe and one of India’s most outspoken entrepreneurs, has now turned his attention to Bollywood. 

In a recent conversation, Grover did not hold back, calling superstars “overvalued” and questioning how the industry values its biggest names.

“Superstars Should Take Equity, Not Salary”

Grover argued that if actors truly believe their names guarantee a film’s success, they should back themselves through equity instead of demanding massive upfront payments.

“Superstars are overvalued in the sense ki tumko lag raha hai tumhare naam pe picture chal rahi hai. To tum fees kyon le rahe ho? Matlab, then you should have equity,” Grover said.

He highlighted the mismatch between star salaries and box office returns. According to him, many actors ask for ₹40 to ₹100 crore per film, while the movies themselves often make much less.

“I get surprised jab log kehte hain isne 80 crore liye, isne 100 crore liye… aur picture kama rahi hai 20 crore. You should have faith in your own stardom. Jab picture paisa banayegi tab tum bhi paisa banao. Thoda toh jigar rakho equity lene ka,” he added.

Grover compared this to startup culture, where founders take risks and bet on the upside of equity rather than drawing big salaries from the start.

Read More: Indore Founders Launch “Superpower Patches” That You Can Slap On To Instantly Sleep, Exercise, Work, & Focus Betteran

From Shark Tank to Viral Sensation

Ashneer Grover’s candid style and quick one-liners on Shark Tank India turned him into an unlikely pop culture icon. Reflecting on his rise as a meme sensation, he shared, 

“Shoot bahut lamba chalta tha… main energy conserve kar raha tha. Main ek line bol deta tha, aur woh pick up ho jati thi.” 

What started as impromptu remarks soon became internet gold.

Grover admitted he never expected his punchlines to blow up the way they did. 

“I never thought it will become viral or so big. Very frankly, it came as a surprise to me… but a pleasant surprise,” he shared. 

Today, lines like his now-iconic “Doglapan” have a life of their own, circulating endlessly across social media and cementing his image as one of India’s most quotable entrepreneurs.

Grover’s comments come at a time when Bollywood is facing tough questions of its own. Big-budget films are struggling at the box office, OTT has changed the game, and conversations around whether stars are worth their massive paychecks are louder than ever. 

In that sense, his startup-inspired view of “take equity, not salary” feels timely.

At the end of the day, Grover has built a reputation for saying exactly what he thinks, whether it is about business, Bollywood, or even on national television.

And with a biopic already being talked about, it looks like he may soon get a chance to see if Bollywood can live up to its own hype.

Read More: Indore Founders Launch “Superpower Patches” That You Can Slap On To Instantly Sleep, Exercise, Work, & Focus Better