Matinee

Padmaavat raises Shahid’s market value

While Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have earlier enjoyed ` 100- crore profit earners, for actor Shahid Kapoor, the success of Padmaavat has opened up an entirely new phase in his career.

Never a part of such a spectacular success, Shahid, we are told, now plans to hike his market price. Apparently,

he has hiked his fees by ` 1 crore. But before that, there is Shree Narayan Singh’s Batti Gul Meter Chalu,

which is currently being shot in parts of Uttarakhand.

But after the success of

Padmaavat, this film based on a social cause is suddenly hot property. A source close to the project informs, “It’s true that after Padmaavat, Batti Gul Meter Chalu is a much bigger project than it was before. Distributors are willing to pay more for him as a solo- starrer than they were earlier. Shahid has done solo movies earlier,

Padmaavat has made a difference... but we would have been just as happy with our decision to work with Shahid if it hadn’t enhanced his market value — PRERNAA ARORA

but it is nothing compared to what Padmaavat did at the box office. Batti Gul… is suddenly a much bigger film.”

Prernaa Arora, who coproduces Batti Gul Meter

Chalu, confirms this. She says, “Padmaavat has made a difference. But we would have been just as happy with our decision to work with Shahid even if Padmaavat had not enhanced his market value.”

The producer is all praises for the young actor. “The dedication with which he prepared for his role has bowled us over. We would love to work with him,” she says.