Big Bang Theory cast take pay cuts to get Rauch, Bialik raises

The original cast members of popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory have reportedly taken pay cuts in order to get Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik raises ahead of the expected two-season renewal. Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar made the gesture while Bialik and Rauch are still in the process of negotiating new contracts, reported Variety. The original five stars, who currently earn around INR 67.18 crore per episode, would make INR 66 lacs less per episode in a potential 11th and 12th seasons. That INR 33.37 crores would be split between Rauch and Bialik. Both actors, who joined the series in the third season have become an important part of the comedy. In the last Big Bang contract renewal cycle, Helberg and Nayyar secured raises that brought them to seven-figure parity (as of this current season) with Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco.

Actor Shahid Kapoor’s (above) film, alongside actors Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan, may have bombed at the box office, but undeterred Shahid is looking ahead to play some interesting roles. The 36-yearold has now expressed a desire to play wrestler Babita Phogat on screen. Babita didn’t waste any time in giving her nod and tweeted on Wednesday saying that Shahid can play Babita in the sequel to Dangal. She wrote: “@shahidkapoor sir i read in newspaper anywhere ki aapki wish h ki aap babita phogat ka roll play kare dangal 2 se ye wish puri hogi aapki (sic).” The tweet didn’t go unnoticed by the actor, and he replied: “Haha that’s so sweet of you babita. You really are such an inspiration(sic).” Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Dangal, which released last year, starred actor Aamir Khan who played former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and trained his daughters Babita and Geeta to win Olympic gold medals for India in wrestling.