During an award ceremony to honour film projectionists in Mumbai, Naseeruddin Shah said that the unfortunate reality is that behind the glitz, many of those working in movies face low wages and are neither acknowledged, appreciated, nor rewarded.

The vast majority of film crews have to live with poor pay levels and even when a film is a box office hit, they never get any additional compensation.

Naseeruddin Shah said, "Those who stand in the rain, knee-deep in water, half-submerged, handling electrical wires or tirelessly carrying reflectors, or those who carry heavy lights on their shoulders all day without anyone even bothering to offer them tea or water, earn a fraction of what those sitting comfortably under fans, sipping sharbats, and throwing tantrums make. Unfortunately, that's how the film industry works. That's the nature of the beast. Afsos yeh hai ki yeh silsila film ban jaane ke baad bhi khatm nahi hota."

Naseeruddin Shah pointed out that this doesn't stop here, adding, "When a film becomes successful, toh iski asli malai distributors aur exhibitors naam ke darinde kha jaate hai and not those who toiled hard behind the scenes."

Giving awards to projectionists, he said, "Ye woh log hai jinhone apni puri zindagi andhere mein guzaar kar ke hamari zindagi ko roshan kiya hai. Film projection se mera rishta utna hi hai jitna kisi aam darshak (viewer) ka hota hai. Maine bhi in stalls mein baith kar awaaz lagayi hai - 'aey light light, sound sound'."

He said that he is thankful to the Film Heritage Foundation and its founder and director, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who felt the need to honour the projectionists and shed light on their invaluable contributions to the film industry.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said, "Because of the glitz and glam image that people have of the film industry, we often forget these unsung heroes and I feel that we must acknowledge those who work tirelessly behind the scenes."