Promoting 'gutka' can be harmful to your career

The celebrities make a lot of money. When one talks of a celebrity, it is obviously about those who have met with success and are adored and admired by the masses. Be it a film actor or a sports person. Films and cricket are such fields that with a little hard work and a lot of luck, a person can be elevated to unbelievable heights.

India is a country of opportunities. Especially so post 1990s, when the country's economy opened its doors to the world to be a part of it. Or, more like wanting the world to be a part of the Indian economy.

A lakh turned into a crore in the film industry. Amitabh Bachchan, assuming he was paid Rs 15 lakh per film in his prime, when he was the guaranteed draw at the box office, was now being paid in many crores in his second innings not as the hero of a film, but to play a character role.

Corporate culture had entered the Indian film industry with foreign investments. Multiplex properties had replaced the single screens. Cinema ticket rates shot up to hundreds instead of Rs 2 to Rs 5! As a result, film stars who used to be worth a few lakh, were now drawing in crores.

The stars were taking home Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore per film, but they did not leave behind their greed. Some of our stars rate among top income taxpayers and earn media headlines. Though they earn in crores, they still stoop for an extra lakh.