After successive setbacks, Sidharth holds urgent meet with team, puts check on salary

Sidharth Malhotra, who has suffered box office failures with the likes of Baar Baar Dekho and A Gentleman, is ready to take a cut in his pay package. The actor, who refused to do Race 3 due to ‘date issues’ wants to ensure he does not lose out on films or work with filmmakers he’s desperately wanted to collaborate with. Just before the release of Ittefaq, Sidharth had a quick meeting with his agency, Matrix, where they discussed his upcoming offers and dates as well. And while a big ticket Salman Khan movie Race 3 would’ve looked good on his résumé, he had to forego the film.

“Ittefaq hasn’t started big either, because of the promotional strategy of the movie. And if it doesn’t really pick up, Sidharth will have his third setback in a row, after his critically and commercially successful Kapoor and Sons,” says a trade source. “Also, Akshaye Khanna has taken away all the laurels in Ittefaq. Therefore, Sidharth will have to put a check on his fee, and not increase it.”