Himesh Reshammiya Reveals Khiladi 786 Cost an Extra ₹1 Crore Because It Was Shot on Film Instead of Digital

Himesh Reshammiya has shared an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about the making of Khiladi 786. The composer, singer and actor revealed that the 2012 Akshay Kumar-starrer ended up costing an additional ₹1 crore because the makers chose to shoot it on traditional film stock instead of using digital technology.

Speaking to trade analyst Komal Nahta, Reshammiya recalled how the production team believed that shooting on film was the better choice at the time. Looking back, he feels the decision resulted in an avoidable expense.

He explained that the team used Kodak film stock for Khiladi 786. Around the same period, another major film production had already adopted digital shooting. The experience made him realise how quickly filmmaking technology was changing and how sticking to an established format could have a financial consequence.

Why Khiladi 786 cost an additional ₹1 crore?

Reshammiya said the team had initially believed that shooting on film was the right approach and that digital was not yet the preferred option. However, as digital filmmaking became increasingly common, he reconsidered that earlier decision.

His reflection was straightforward: the production had spent an additional crore because it opted for Kodak film.

The revelation offers a glimpse into the practical decisions behind film production. The choice between shooting on film and digital is not merely about visual preference; it can also affect production costs and workflow. Reshammiya's account is a personal recollection of the production decision, rather than an independently published audit of the film's budget.

Himesh also recalls the challenges of analogue music recording

The conversation with Nahta also touched upon the changes Reshammiya has witnessed in music production.

He recalled that the song Odh Li Chunariya was recorded using two-inch tape. When the team moved to analogue recording, he felt that the track had lost some of its fullness and spent three days working on the mix to address what he described as a thinner sound.

Looking back today, he feels the audible difference is relatively small. For him, the experience illustrates how technology evolves and how creative professionals gradually adapt to new methods of working.

Himesh Reshammiya on AI and the future of music

A major part of the discussion focused on artificial intelligence and its growing influence on the entertainment industry.

Reshammiya believes AI will significantly change music production. He discussed the growing number of people entering the singing profession and suggested that technological progress will create new opportunities as well as challenges. In his view, artists will need to keep reinventing themselves to remain relevant.

He also acknowledged that AI tools are already being used in certain creative workflows. According to him, these tools can help generate references for scripts, posters, costumes and motion posters.

However, he made an important distinction between technological assistance and emotional storytelling. While AI may become increasingly useful in the creative process, he believes the human mind will remain essential to creating the emotional connection that audiences expect from music and cinema.

What Khiladi 786 tells us about Bollywood's changing technology?

Released in December 2012, Khiladi 786 featured Akshay Kumar, Asin, Himesh Reshammiya and Mithun Chakraborty. Directed by Ashish R Mohan, the action comedy was also an important project in Reshammiya's career as a composer, actor and producer.

His latest recollection places the film within a period when the Indian film industry was moving from traditional film cameras towards digital production. The transition was not simply a technical upgrade; it also required filmmakers and production teams to reconsider established assumptions about quality, cost and convenience.

The comparison Reshammiya draws with AI is particularly relevant. Just as digital filmmaking eventually became a standard production method, AI tools are now finding their way into different stages of entertainment creation. The bigger question for filmmakers and musicians is how to use these technologies without losing the creative judgement and emotional depth that define their work.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The most interesting part of Reshammiya's recollection is not just the additional ₹1 crore. It is how clearly it captures the cost of resisting technological change.

A production decision that once seemed artistically sensible can look financially unnecessary when the industry moves forward. His comparison between film cameras, digital production and AI also highlights an important distinction: adopting new technology does not automatically guarantee better creative work, but understanding when and how to use it can make a significant difference.

For Bollywood, the transition to digital has already happened. The debate around AI is now moving into a similar phase, with filmmakers and musicians figuring out where technology can help and where human creativity must lead.

Sources & Verification

This article is based primarily on Himesh Reshammiya's remarks in his conversation with Komal Nahta, as reported by Bollywood Hungama on November 1, 2026. The film's release and credits have been cross-checked against published film information. The additional ₹1 crore figure is attributed to Reshammiya's account and has not been presented as an independently audited budget figure.