The coronavirus lockdown came as a shocker for everyone, but for daily earners, staying cooped up in their homes meant no work and no money. While most of us are living off our savings, there are many who have exhausted it and don’t have any other source of income.
Shootings have also been suspended, leaving several artists struggling with dwindling finances. Non-payment of dues is also a major problem in the TV and film industry. Hence, actor Sanaya Irani decided to raise her voice against this practice.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, the ‘Miley Jab Hum Tum’ actor said, “Pandemic or no pandemic, to have to beg for your own hard-earned money is just sad. It is a terrible time for everyone, especially those who didn’t have enough savings or living off what they earned and now they have none of that.”
It’s been six years that the actor hasn’t worked for the small screen, however, she recalls that delay in payments in the industry used to happen back then as well.
“I’ve not done TV in six years and I do remember during that time also, producers used to make up excuses that they will pay after three months because the channel will pay them after three months.”
“It’s always blamed on the channel. One person passes the buck to the other, but it is like you are eating into the poor people’s lives.”
But, she adds that she never experienced it herself. “I never had to wait for a long time because the producers I’ve worked with were very nice and I was very professional about these things,” Irani says. Sanaya further questions the artists, “Why are you working for somebody for this long? Why are you not putting your foot down and raising your voice at the right time?
“First, producers opt for newcomers who are willing to work for less money. And in the fear of losing work, actors are okay with taking money eight months later.”
The actor, popular for playing the character of a bubble, girl-next-door in the TV serial ‘Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?’ adds, “If you don’t get your money in three months, raise your voice in the fourth month. Don’t fear stigma or the fear of somebody throwing you out of the show.”
Sanaya, who was last seen in the horror-thriller film ‘Ghost’, did a few projects before the lockdown. She says that she is also waiting for her payments, however, she’s willing to wait as she understands that it’s a hard time for everybody.
“Luckily, I’m in a position where it’s not like a hand-to-mouth situation. So, if I could make somebody else’s day or month better by holding on a little, I’ll hold on. At a time like this, you realise that none of all that name, fame, money, or the 10,000 things you have or don’t have, really matters. What matters is humanity,” she adds.
We hope people show some compassion towards their colleagues and help them as much as possible during these testing times.