Last Updated:November 23, 2025, 20:57 IST

Anupam Kher recalled even after his film Bend It Like Beckham became a huge hit, the film’s producer offered him the same fee for their next film.

Anupam Kher Recalls Demanding Fair Pay After Bend It Like Beckham Success

Veteran actor Anupam Kher is one of the finest actors in Indian cinema. Having worked in the film industry for over four decades, he has seen his fair share of ups and down. Recently, at IFFI 2025, Anupam Kher shared anecdotes from his professional journey. The actor recalled that even after his film Bend It Like Beckham (2002) became a huge hit, the film’s producer Deepak Nayar offered him the same fee for their next film.  However, Anupam Kher refused to settle for the same amount, and demanded fair pay. He revealed that they were at a 5-star hotel’s coffee shop when he got up on the table and shouted to demand fair pay.

Anupam Kher On Demanding Fair Pay

While speaking at IFFI 2025, Anupam Kher recalled, “I did Bend It Like Beckham for 5000 pounds. Its producer was going to make another film. He came to meet me at a hotel’s coffee shop and asked how much money I wanted for the role. He said he will offer the same amount I got for the previous one. I questioned him, ‘You made 100 million from that film, why will you give me only that much money?’”

When the producer hesitated, he got up on the table, and told those present at the coffee shop about their conversation. “The coffee shop was full of people at 10 am in the morning. I stood up on the table instantly and shouted, ‘Hello friends. This guy is Deepak Nayar. He gave me 5000 pounds for Bend It Like Beckham, but now he doesn’t want to give me full money for another film’,” recalled Anupam Kher.

While the producer asked him to sit, however Anupam Kher stuck to his demand for fair pay. “I kept on going, ‘Paise deraha hai ki nahi? (Will you give the money I ask for?)’ He agreed, asked me to sit and then I sat down. Because giving up is not a choice,” he shared.

Bend It Like Beckham is a sports drama directed by Gurinder Chadha. The film stars Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, and others. It was produced by Deepak Nayar and Gurinder Chadha. After this film, Anupam Kher starred in producer Deepak Nayar’s 2005 film ‘The Mistress Of Spices’.