PAYMENT WOES: ALTER 90-DAY PAY CYCLE, URGE TV ACTORS
Despite demand to scrap it, the 90-day pay system remains in TV industry
The pandemic had put a hold on shoots, similar to what happened in 2020. In such trying times, everyone needs money to sail through the crisis. However, many actors feel that the pay system on TV is adding to their financial woes.
Conventionally, 90-days has been the timeline most actors get their pay after. Since last year, many actors have been voicing their concern over this system, terming it unfeasible, especially in such uncertain times. So, did it lead to any course correction? The industry at large says it’s still the same.
Actor Aishwarya Sakhuja, who is currently seen in the show Yeh Hai Chahatein says, “What happens is established actors put a clause in their contract in the very beginning. Most production houses have been kind to me. But for the rest, the 90-day pay period continues.”
Moreover, some production houses have requested actors to even cut down their pay. “The system is still the same; there has been no change. Even for me, they were asking if we can do some more cut in the payment. We are stepping out in the pandemic to shoot, on top of that, we are working with a cut, it doesn’t make sense,” says Debina Bonnerjee, adding that apart from insurance, actors don’t get any other add-on benefit.
Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) senior joint secretary and chairman, outreach committee, Amit Behl cites the trickle down effect as the reason for pay system still being the same. “Advertising revenues have dropped by 80%.
The manufacturer delays payment to advertiser, it delays payment to broadcaster, it in turn delays for the producers and then to cast and crew,” he explains.
Sharing plight of producers, he adds, “Lead and semi-lead actors earn ₹16-17 lakhs per month, and if they want the payment immediately, how will they get it? Almost 90% producers have cleared the payments to smaller actors.”
According to JD Majethia, chairman, TV division of IFTPC, some producers have indeed brought the payment cycle down. “A few broadcasters tried to alter their policies and tried to pay producers. I would say it’s not been continued, as last year, the policy was designed to address the pandemic,” he says.
Actors Sharad Malhotra and Kratika Sengar feel that the 90-day pay system needs to change. “The system needs to change by the people sitting above. The producers, channels need to give it a thought. I hope they do something,” says Malhotra.
Sengar, however, shares that every actor has a different contract. “It’s about the contract you make with the production house. I stand with those artists who get it after 90 days. But these artists need to speak up too,” Sengar concludes.