Jisshu Sengupta Reveals Budget & Speed Gap Between Bengali & Bollywood Films

Bengali film star Jisshu Sengupta highlights budget as the primary distinction between the Hindi and Bengali film industries. He notes the average Bengali film is made on a modest budget of around 3 crore and is completed within 16-18 days. In contrast, he points out that a single song in a big Bollywood film can take over a week to shoot. Sengupta also emphasizes the significant presence of Bengali technicians and music directors in Bollywood, asserting the talent pool is comparable.

Key Points: Jisshu Sengupta on Budget Differences: Bollywood vs Bengali Cinema

  • Budget is the biggest difference
  • Bengali films average 3 crore
  • Bengali films wrap in 16-18 days
  • Bollywood songs can take 8-10 days
  • Many Bengali talents work in Bollywood
2 min read

Jisshu Sengupta explains the stark difference between Hindi and Bengali film industries

Bengali star Jisshu Sengupta explains the stark budget and production time differences between the Hindi and Bengali film industries.

Jisshu Sengupta explains the stark difference between Hindi and Bengali film industries
"It's only the money. Average Bengali films' budget would be around 3 crore mostly. - Jisshu Sengupta"

Mumbai, March 27

Bengali film industry's superstar Jisshu Sengupta, in an exclusive conversation with, opened up about the stark differences between the Hindi and Bengali film industries, stating that budget remains the biggest distinguishing factor.

He said, "It's only the money. Average Bengali films' budget would be around 3 crore mostly. Most of them, There are films which are 8-9 crores, but they probably happen once in two or three years. The average Bengali cinema is around 3 crore. It can be 2.5 or 3.5 max. So that's the only difference."

The scale and time taken to complete films was also highlighted by the actor.

He further added, "In the Bengali cinema, we complete a film within 16 to 18 days on average, with songs, with three-four songs in it. We complete it. And here in Bollywood, we can't even think of completing a film like that."

Drawing a comparison with big-budget Bollywood projects, Jisshu said, "If I see a big-budget film, say a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, one song will take eight to ten days. Wahan pe hum log 10 din mein 60 percent film khatam kar denge. So yeah, that's the only difference, the money part."

The presence of Bengali talent in Bollywood was also pointed out.

He said, "There are a lot of Bengalis who are working in Bollywood right now. There are so many technicians, so many DOPs. Sudeep Sarkar is there who works with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and so many more."

He further emphasised, "You talk about the music directors, Pritam is there, Shantanu Moitra is there. So there are so many Bengalis here. Talent-wise, technician-wise, there is no difference. It's only the money part that is the major difference between Bollywood and Bengali cinema."

On the professional front, Jisshu Sengupta is set to be a part of Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan.

The film also stars Akshay Kumar, Rajpal Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi. The movie is slated to release on April 10.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Budget is a factor, but let's not ignore reach and distribution. A Bollywood film releases in 4000+ screens worldwide. A Bengali film struggles for 500. Money follows audience size. It's a business reality.
A
Aditya G
Respectfully, I think he's oversimplifying. The difference isn't *only* money. It's also about storytelling scale, marketing muscle, and star power. A 16-day shoot can't match the production design of a Bhansali epic. Both have their place.
S
Sarah B
This is fascinating from an outsider's perspective. It shows how regional cinema in India operates on such different models. The efficiency of completing a film in 18 days with songs is incredible! Hollywood could learn a thing or two.
M
Meera T
So true about Bengali talent in Bollywood! From music to cinematography, we are everywhere. The talent pool from Bengal is immense. Jisshu himself is a brilliant actor. Wishing him all the best for Bhooth Bangla!
K
Karthik V
The core point is valid. At the end of the day, it's economics. Bollywood targets a pan-India/global audience, hence bigger budgets. Bengali cinema, while brilliant, has a primary regional market. Both industries are vital to Indian cinema's diversity.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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