Sara Siddiqui
The traditional Indian wedding was incomplete without a performance from the family, best friends or sometimes even a dance battle between the two families. But getting a taste of Bollywood through an actual celebrity seems like an out-of-the-world experience.
After destination weddings, this is the latest fad taking the luxury wedding market by storm – having a Bollywood celebrity perform at the wedding! With the wedding industry booming with business, A-listers have started regularly performing at weddings and wedding functions to create an event out of the functions. A memorable performance for both the couple and the guests, not without a fee, of course.
Actors like Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan are extremely selective in the events they choose to appear at but give memorable performances at their chosen weddings. Sources say that Padukone can charge up to 1 crore whereas SRK can charge 8 crores for a performance and 3 crores for an appearance.
Wedding planners said that the trend is here to stay. N DakshinaaMurthi, Founder and CEO of Wedding Vows, said, “Weddings are a celebration of love and joy, and adding celebrity performances to the mix is a trend that has been gaining popularity in the luxury wedding market. It adds a touch of glamour and excitement to the event, making it an unforgettable experience for the couple and their guests.” He added that the trend is here to stay and will only evolve with time.
Reports suggests that actors including Sonakshi Sinha, Anushka Sharma and Sunny Leone charge around 25-70 lakhs for performances and appearances at weddings. The charges for an appearance by an actor and a complete performance are different. For instance, Salman Khan charges 1.5 crores for an appearance but 2.5 crores for a full-fledged performance.
Celebrities known for their exceptional dancing skills are always in-demand for events and weddings. Katrina Kaif, Hrithik Roshan, Nora Fatehi and Malaika Arora being among the list. Some A-listers rarely decline wedding invites. Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh are known to be cooperative and tend to liven the event up with their power-packed performances. Guests have noted that they are not just performers and make sure that everyone has a good time.