TV industry is emerging from the loss caused by the pandemic. The industry is currently struggling with the issue of non-payment of dues. While some prefer to stay silent, the others have started to raise their voice.
After waiting for good two-and-a-half years, actors of Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali are now demanding for their due to be paid by the production house. The show was launched in October 2018 and got wrapped up in just three months. Although the show wrapped up in three months the actors shoot for six and they want to be paid accordingly.
Sonarika Bhadoria, who essayed the role of Anarkali, shared, “They owed me 80 lakhs, but I have only been paid 7 to 8 lakhs so far. I have taken the legal route and I hope to get what is due to me.”
Other actors who are also awaiting for their dues to be cleared include Shahbaz Khan, Gurdip Punjj, Tassnim Sheikh and Anand Goradia. The actors have now approached CINTAA (Cine and TV Artistes’ Association) against Anirudh Pathak.
Shahbaz, who essayed the role of Akbar, says, “We had started shooting much before the show launched. It is our hard-earned money and we should get it. Every time we try reaching the producer, he does not respond. We are all going through tough times, some of us sitting at home without work during the pandemic. Personally, I feel that this exploitation has to stop.”
Tassnim says, “I feel cheated. I played my part with all diligence; I wore a 25-kilo lehenga with jewelry, and suffered so much weight on my body only to not receive my money! It’s sad that we have to keep contacting the production house and ask for our money.”
Gurdip shares, “I had kept quiet about this issue, but now I feel it is time to speak up. There’s just no response to my messages. They say the show exceeded its budget, but then the producer should have realized that. You can’t pay your actors because of that!”
Anand Goradia who recently lost his mother shared, “My mother passed away a few months ago. When she was hospitalized, I needed money for her treatment. I kept contacting the production house at that time hoping to get my dues, but I got no response. Hope they understand the gravity of the situation and release our dues now.”
In an interview with BT, Anirudh Pathak said, “Salim Anarkali was abruptly pulled off air in three months. We incurred huge losses. After that, the pandemic struck. I haven’t refused to pay, but because of the losses I incurred, I had to shut my own production house. Now, I am trying to earn as a writer and pay everyone. It will take time.”