Security agency model<\/h2>\n
Celebrity bodyguards often become part of an artiste\u2019s inner circle, making fans curious about the hiring process and salary structure. Sameer, who handles the security of Bollywood celebs when they are in Delhi<\/a>, says they communicate with artiste\u2019s managers and are hired by them. \u201cThe managers take care of agency hiring. However, this is done in consultation with artistes\u2019 themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Security personnel Zeeshan Qureshi, who primarily manages Sidharth Malhotra<\/a>, explained the agency model. \u201cEarlier, there were only a few prominent security agencies, including Ronit Roy\u2019s Ace Security and Protection, who provided services to all the A-listers \u2013 Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and others. These companies used to employee 50-60 people on payroll, and give them monthly salaries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He further continued, \u201cThese bodyguards used to provide security for 10-12 hours everyday to a celebrity. They only used to receive salaries, but no perks such as conveyance or other charges. When the company received a particular amount for a film shoot, they used to pay 10% to the security guard who is on the job. They used to eat food with the celebrity\u2019s team on set. But now, security guards have started connecting with the artistes personally, avoiding the agency route. Moreover, even if they are coming through an agency, they get 25% of the payment, along with the monthly salary.\u201d<\/p>\n Actor Deepika Padukone\u2019s security is handled by her longtime bodyguard Jalaluddin Shaikh. According to several reports, Jalal\u2019s annual salary is estimated to be around Rs 1.2 crore per year. He often shares pictures with the Padmavat star on his social media handles.<\/p>\n ALSO READ |<\/strong> R Madhavan reveals 5 things he is \u2018too shy\u2019 to ask his wife Sarita Birje: \u2018Being wanted hits different\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Anushka Sharma\u2019s bodyguard Prakash Singh aka Sonu, has been with her for many years, even before her marriage to Virat Kohli in 2017. He is often seen travelling with both Anushka and Virat, protecting them in public spaces.<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Shera, who handles, Salman\u2019s security, has his own security agency called Tiger security, since 1995. He has been the superstar\u2019s trusted personal bodyguard since 1997. He travels with Salman to almost every private event, film set, or other shoots. His earning is again said to be in crores.<\/p>\n The bigger the celebrity, the more elaborate the security ecosystem becomes. Sameer debunked the myth that Salman Khan\u2019s bodyguard Shera or Shah Rukh Khan\u2019s personal security guard Ravi Singh<\/a> get a salary of over Rs 2 crores. Having said that, he admitted that they do get certain privileges and their salaries are much higher than other bodyguards. \u201cIf we are getting 50 paise for a job, they would get paid Rs 1, because they are working with a big artiste. They have huge packages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Yusuf Ibrahim, who handles the security for actor Alia Bhatt and has worked with Shah Rukh Khan and many other stars in the past, told SCREEN that there is no way celebrity bodyguards are earning crores monthly. \u201cAll this isn\u2019t possible. They have a fixed salary but the rest depends on whatever they can make through different shoots. What you see about bodyguards making crores\u00a0 a month is not true.\u201d<\/p>\n Zeeshan revealed that whoever operates social media, exaggerates the amount paid to bodyguards. \u201cCase in point \u2013 Aamir Khan\u2019s staff only gets salary of Rs 25,000 per month. His bodyguards work in 3 shifts of 4 hours each. He has a total of 12 people, and there are 4 people with him at all times. They don\u2019t get any added per day or brand shoot payments,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The bodyguard added, \u201cHowever, other stars like Shah Rukh, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Hrithik Roshan, have security guards working with them since several years. They don\u2019t belong to any company. If there\u2019s any shoot or visit planned, their security has a fixed amount that they always charge on daily basis, along with the salaries given by actors. The contract is drawn up that way so that the driver, hair-makeup artist and security is included.\u201d<\/p>\n The payments for a film shoot, for instance, is paid by the producer. If the actor is doing an ad shoot, photo shoot or making an appearance at an event, the client pays for security along with other costs. For security, these costs can range anything from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh for a few hours or a day.<\/p>\n In fact, Zeeshan admitted that most of these top celebrity bodyguards \u201cdon\u2019t prefer\u201d taking salaries. \u201cIt is so minimal and a mere formality. When they are getting paid Rs 1-1.5 lacs for a single event, why would they care about Rs 30-40K? I have never charged any salary from them myself, and I have worked with Varun Dhawan, Alia, Ranbir Kapoor, and now with Siddharth.\u201d<\/p>\n A celebrity\u2019s security team has to accompany him\/her to every shoot assignment, be it for a film, ad, or even appearances. While many may think that the artist pays for his own security, it is important to mention that the expenses are covered by the other party. For example, if an actor is travelling for a movie shoot with his entire team (including security and hair-makeup artists), then the producer will bear the costs of travel, hotel, food, and other miscellaneous expenses. The same rule is applied during photo or ad shoots\u00a0 as the brand pays.<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Talking about the per day payments for such assignments, Yusuf said, \u201cThese are decided between the managers and the production houses. We have no say in this, they decide the budget<\/a> which is given to everybody. It keeps varying according to the budgets and stars. The travelling, hotel and food expenses, everything is taken care of by the promotors.\u201d<\/p>\n Sameer agreed with Yusuf\u2019s assertion and said, \u201cThe expenses are taken care of by the production house. The artiste only pays if the security has been hired for any personal use, they don\u2019t pay anything during promotions. In the case of an ad shoot, they have a separate component for both hair-makeup and security. Around Rs 1.5 lakh is paid to HMU artists and around Rs 70-75K budget for security.\u201d<\/p>\n ALSO READ |<\/strong> \u2018He brought a cake\u2019: SRK\u2019s former bodyguard reveals the side of MS Dhoni that made a security guard cry<\/a><\/p>\n Elaborating the entire process behind providing security for various shoots of actors, Zeeshan shared, \u201cEvery actor has a WhatsApp group with their entire team. Their managers drop a message on the group, revealing the timings and days of shoot and send the remuneration on DM. There\u2019s mostly no need for negotiation from our side. The best part is that\u00a0the actor\u2019s staff payments never get stalled, be it for a film or any other shoot. We even receive it in advance sometimes. This is the biggest plus point of working with actors.\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The security agents also tend to maintain a personal relationship with the artist, which in turn helps them with salary perks and benefits. The system is followed by most of the celebrities, including, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt<\/a>, Siddharth Malhotra.<\/p>\n When asked about celebs covering various expenses like school fees of children, vacations, medical, etc, Yusuf shared, \u201cIts there, its definitely there. They do take care of what is required by their staff, its internal and between them, jiska jitna dil ho (depending on what perks an individual wants to give).\u201d To which Zeeshan added, sharing his experience with actor Taapsee Pannu. \u201cEven if you are living in a rented house, they cover those charges as well. With Taapsee, she took care of schooling, medical, house rent, etc. Every artist has done this in my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Salman](\"https:\/\/images.indianexpress.com\/2026\/05\/shera-has-pledged-his-unwavering-loyalty-towards-salman-khan-credit-instagram-beingshera-050129225-16x9_0.png?resize=600,337\")
Salman Khan\u2019s bodyguard Shera<\/span><\/p>\nDebunking myths<\/h2>\n
![\"Alia](\"https:\/\/images.indianexpress.com\/2026\/05\/alia-bhatt-ranbir-kapoor-spent-time-with-there-bodygaurd-family-1-ezgif.com-avif-to-jpg-converter.jpg?resize=479,600\")
Alia Bhatt\u2019s bodyguard Yusuf Ibrahim<\/span><\/p>\nFilm shoots, brands, and advertisements<\/h2>\n
![\"Shah](\"https:\/\/images.indianexpress.com\/2026\/05\/Shah_Rukh_Khan_Body_Guard_Ravi_singh-1.png?resize=600,450\")
Shah Rukh Khan\u2019s bodyguard Ravi Singh<\/span><\/p>\nSalary perks of celebrity bodyguards<\/h2>\n
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