Showing posts with label Manmeet Grewal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manmeet Grewal. Show all posts
Is TV all work, no pay? Inside the industry's long-standing issue with payments
10:43 AM
Akash Jagga, a TV actor, talks about how payments often get delayed by 90 days and is a common practice in the industry now
After TV actor Shehzada Dhami alleged that a production house owes him Rs 30 lakh in unpaid dues, the spotlight turns to the industry’s long-standing culture of delayed payments, particularly for those who are new to the screen
Tanisha Banerjee (MID-DAY; July 12, 2026)
For millions of viewers, television actors are familiar faces who appear in their living rooms every evening, often associated with fame and success. But behind the polished sets and prime-time popularity lies a far less glamorous reality. Over the years, several actors have publicly alleged delayed or unpaid remuneration, exposing the financial uncertainty that exists within the industry.
That conversation has resurfaced after TV actor Shehzada Dhami (Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) alleged that a production house owes him Rs 30 lakh in unpaid dues. Speaking up in his support, actor Shilpa Shinde (Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai!) described some television producers as “white-collar mafia”.
Their claims join a growing list of similar complaints in the television industry. Actors including Nupur Alankar (Diya Aur Baati Hum), Kishwer Merchant (Hip Hip Hurray), even the family of deceased actor Manmeet Grewal (Aadat Se Majboor) have, at different points, spoken about delayed payments, financial distress, or the irregular cash flow that often accompanies television work.
While producers’ bodies have occasionally disputed individual allegations or cited contractual and production-related complications, the recurring nature of these complaints points to a systemic issue rather than isolated disputes.
TV actor Akash Jagga, who is best known for his roles in Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2020) and Sasural Simar Ka 2 (2021-2022), entered the television industry in 2020. He says that delayed payments are not an exception but an accepted part of the profession. It is an unspoken standard practice for actors, especially newcomers, to be paid 90 days after the shooting of a particular show. His conversations with senior actors reveal how drastically the payment culture has changed over the years.
“I’ve heard from seniors that actors used to receive payments almost immediately. Then it became a week, then a month, then two months. Today, many actors are paid nearly three months after an episode is telecast,” he says.
Unlike film stars with multiple revenue streams, many TV actors rely on regular shooting schedules for a steady income. Payments are frequently staggered, and speaking out against delayed dues can carry the risk of being labelled “difficult” in an industry driven largely by relationships and reputation. As more actors come forward with their experiences over time, the spotlight is shifting from standalone individual disputes to questioning how financially secure are the faces that dominate Indian television screens?
TV actor Shreya Sinha [name changed] recalls an incident that exposed the power imbalance many television actors face when it comes to getting paid. During one of her projects, she says the production house attempted to pay her only half of what had been agreed upon when she was cast.
“They sent me only half my payment. That wasn’t what we had discussed. I stood my ground and told them that if I had worked, I deserved to be paid in full,” she says. After repeatedly following up, Sinha eventually received the full amount in her next payment cycle. However, she says several of her co-actors, who were hesitant to question the producers for fear of being replaced, did not get their dues.
Such delayed and partial payments are not uncommon. “We were paid once every three months, and sometimes only around 20 per cent of the total amount would come. Some of my co-actors went six to eight months without receiving their dues.” She believes newcomers are especially vulnerable. Many young actors, eager for visibility, accept salaries as low as Rs 15,000 a month despite working a 12 to 14-hour shifts. “You can’t even pay your rent in Mumbai with that. They do it because they want an opportunity, but that’s exploitation,” she says.
While contracts may allow established actors to negotiate payment clauses, Jagga believes newcomers have little bargaining power. Eager to secure their first break, they often accept whatever terms are offered. “As soon as actors ask for a better budget, makers can easily replace them with someone new who’s willing to work for less. That’s why television budgets have kept shrinking.”
Jagga admits he, too, accepted such conditions when starting out. But reality catches up. “We spend long hours on set, sacrifice our personal lives, and our health, yet the pay doesn’t reflect the amount of work we put in.”
Is it a film problem as well?
Shehzada Dhami’s allegations are not an isolated case. Last month, actor Satendra Soni (Laapataa Ladies, 2024) broke down in an emotional Instagram video, alleging that he had not been paid for his work and claiming he was threatened after repeatedly asking for his dues. His video struck a chord with many within the industry, once again highlighting the financial insecurity that can accompany life in television. While not every project is affected, payment disputes remain a recurring concern across India’s entertainment industry, underscoring the absence of uniform safeguards for freelance creative professionals.
‘Producers are the most vulnerable’
Offering the producers’ perspective, actor, producer, director, and Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) chairman for TV and Web Jamnadas Majethia says delayed payments are rarely intentional and are often a consequence of mounting financial pressures within the television ecosystem.
Majethia explains that payment delays often arise when a producer suffers financial losses or faces cash flow issues. In such situations, producers prioritize immediate operational expenses, including payments to daily wage workers, studios, and essential vendors, while actors and suppliers often receive their dues later.
“A producer has to ensure the shoot doesn’t stop. If the studio isn’t paid rent on time, the production comes to a standstill,” he explains, “And delayed deliveries can cause a further loss due to late delivery penalties.”
Majethia maintains that delayed payments are not an industry-wide norm but individual cases that receive greater public attention because of the industry’s visibility. He believes producers today are operating under unprecedented pressure.
“A producer is the most vulnerable person in the entire system,” he says, “Producers have to deliver the same quality of content despite significantly dropped budgets.” With television viewership declining and advertisers increasingly shifting their spending towards OTT platforms, production budgets have shrunk considerably for the television industry. “So where will the money come from?” he asks.
If you don’t get your money, raise your voice-Sanaya Irani
8:22 AM
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 29, 2020)
“Pandemic or no pandemic, to have to beg for your hard-earned money is sad,” says actor Sanaya Irani about the non-payment of dues in the TV industry.
Actor Manmeet Grewal’s suicide due to financial crisis left her heartbroken, as did the news about many others in the industry who’re complaining about unpaid dues.
“I’ve not done TV for six years but I do remember during my time, too, producers used to make excuses. It’s always blamed on the channel. One person passes the buck to the other. I never had to wait for long because the producers I worked with were nice and I was very professional about these things,” she says.
Some actors wait for four to eight months or more for their dues. The 36-year-old actor asks, “Why are you working for somebody for this long? First, producers opt for newcomers who are willing to work for less money. And in the fear of losing work, actors are okay getting paid after eight months.”
The only way to change this, according to Irani, is to raise your voice at the right time. “If you don’t get your money in three months, raise your voice in the fourth month,” she says.
The actor, who did a few projects before the Coronavirus lockdown, is also waiting for her payments. She says, “I’m willing to wait. I understand that it’s a hard time for everybody. Luckily, I’m not in a hand-to-mouth situation. In such tough times, none of that name and fame matters.”
TV actor Manmeet Grewal’s suicide puts the spotlight on delayed payments in telly industry
8:19 AM
TV associations urge producers to clear dues of cast and crew in the wake of Manmeet Grewal’s suicide
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 18, 2020)
On Friday, TV actor Manmeet Grewal committed suicide due to acute financial crisis in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown. While the incident has left the industry shocked, it has also triggered a conversation on when shoots can be resumed, of course, with all the precautionary measures in place. The fact that Manmeet ended his life as he did not have work or money to repay his loans, has become a cause of concern for film and TV associations, especially since many members are struggling to make ends meet because of unpaid dues.
Expressing the general sentiment among artistes, senior actor Raza Murad said, “The saddest part is that the TV industry follows a system of being paid after 90 days. Many workers, including actors, are currently facing a financial crisis because of this. If this situation continues, we fear that there may be more Manmeet Grewals.”
Meanwhile, Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has requested producers to clear their actors’ dues. Amit Behl, Senior Joint Secretary and Chairperson of Outreach Committee, CINTAA, shared, “We urge television producers to clear the dues of their cast. Actors need money to survive, so producers should not insist on the 90-day payment system in the face of such a crisis. If people are paid their dues, we can avert such tragedies.”
There are some cases in the industry, where shows have ended, but actors have not been paid even after a year. An actor said on the condition of anonymity, “It’s frustrating not to be paid for your hard work. In these times of lockdown, it’s making our situation worse. We don’t know whom to approach, as everyone is battling a financial crisis.”
J D Majethia, Chairman of the TV wing of Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), said, “It is important that we take care of our fellow workers in such a crisis. I had previously sent a mail in this regard to all the producers and yesterday, I again penned a note urging them to clear dues. In addition, they should make an advance payment to those who are in need.”
‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON’
Meanwhile, several people feel that resuming shoots is the only way forward. Raza Murad said, “I would like to appeal to the government to give us permission to start work with minimum workers, with all the precautions in place.”
However, Amit Behl feels that it’s easier said than done. He explained, “Working at minimum capacity and resuming shoots is a creative call, in which we have no say. Even the smallest TV unit requires a certain number of technicians. So, it is not easy for TV shows to resume shoots even after taking the necessary precautions, because it will pose a health hazard.”
While that may be so, Majethia feels that shoots can’t be stalled any further. “We have a plan and would like to discuss it with the Maharashtra government. We would like to resume shoots with a smaller workforce. It is important that the show goes on,” he signed off.
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