Madhura Naik Talks About the 90-day-payment rule

With the lockdown hitting everyone and suicide cases of actors due to financial and work woes on a rise, TV actors are finally opening up and raise their voices against the payment policy. The policy for Hindi TV rules is that all actors will be paid 90-days after the first telecast of a show. Accepting this rule for all these years, many actors and crew members are taking the hit of this existing policy. With shoots at halt since March, TV celebs are feeling the money crunch and many have also complained of not getting paid yet. During live interactions, many TV actors have raised their voices against doing away with this payment method.

Madhura Naik has also spoken up about the same "Many people are not addressing this issue but I would love to be vocal about it. A lot of my cheques have also not come. I am blessed that it doesn’t make much difference to me but there are many actors who come from smaller cities and they are bearing their living in an expensive city like Mumbai. Ever since I started working, I was against this policy. A lot of our contracts state that it is a 90-day credit period, but why? You work in any company, you get paid in a monthly basis. Why does an actor have to wait for 90-days? Sometimes it gets stretched till six months. It is a ridiculous procedure that the association is following. I think this is the time when the actors will realise that how important it is to fight such issues. A lot of them are insecure and they are not vocal about this. It is time for all the actors to unite and CINTAA should fight for their artists. What is your logic to this 90-day policy? This should come to an end."

She added "Also, 12 hours of work and the kind of environment we work in, it is so exhausting. I don’t know why nobody wants to talk about it. Now even our sets have shifted to outskirts. Anytime I get an offer where set is located at such far-off place, I avoid. It leaves me with no personal time. I discuss with my colleagues too, like why are we not voicing their opinions? I had also spoken about my cheques and got the excuse ‘office is closed’. Why can’t you RTGS? They are using the lockdown as an excuse. You don’t see this policy in any other entertainment policy. It is a rubbish policy. Artists need to be valued. Many of our shows are re-run in other countries. In Hollywood, if a show is being re-run, artists are paid royalty. And I don’t why we are being treated like this. If all actors say ‘no’ to the policy, then how can a producer launch a show?"

"Also, 12 hours of work and the kind of environment we work in, it is so exhausting. I don’t know why nobody wants to talk about it. Now even our sets have shifted to outskirts. Anytime I get an offer where set is located at such far-off place, I avoid. It leaves me with no personal time. I discuss with my colleagues too, like why are we not voicing their opinions? I had also spoken about my cheques and got the excuse ‘office is closed’. Why can’t you RTGS? They are using the lockdown as an excuse. You don’t see this policy in any other entertainment policy. It is a rubbish policy. Artists need to be valued. Many of our shows are re-run in other countries. In Hollywood, if a show is being re-run, artists are paid royalty. And I don’t why we are being treated like this. If all actors say ‘no’ to the policy, then how can a producer launch a show?"

Actor Asish Sharma was also among the actors who spoke bout the same "I have not been able to understand this from the very beginning. This is wrong practice. The whole system is wrong. As a profession we are not in an organised sector, what else can I say? It’s not just about 90-day payment. Where and to whom will you address this issue? It is all scattered. Who is running this system? Why don’t we have an organization with a set of rules and guidelines – be it financial or health scheme. Nobody is addressing it. You get to see glitz and glamour from outside but inside the struggle is hard. This entire system is haywire. We have to stand against those production houses who are not making payments. We have a legal contract and according arbitration clause you can drag the producer to court. He is liable to make your payment and also bear court expenses. People don’t go out of fear and insecurity. Always speak when it is wrong."

Actress Helly Shah also shared her insight on the same "Almost all the actors are facing financial troubles. I am also facing. Some have savings and some do not. But stopping someone’s payment is not right. This is a kind of profession which is full of uncertainties. No one should suffer for late payment. Even if the amount is small, they should be cleared."