Showing posts with label Nupur Alankar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nupur Alankar. 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.
After Shagufta Ali opens up about her financial woes, CINTAA offers monetary aid; seeks Salman Khan’s help
8:18 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 7, 2021)
On Monday, news broke that TV actor Shagufta Ali has been facing a financial crunch, owing to lack of work and the rising cost of her medical treatment. As soon as word of her condition reached the Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), the body sprang into action.
Amit Behl, senior joint secretary, CINTAA, reveals that while they have initiated the process of offering financial assistance, the body also intends to seek Salman Khan’s help. “Being the self-respecting individual that Shagufta is, she was initially reluctant to take our help, but we’ve convinced her. We’ll also reach out to Salman Khan’s Being Human foundation on this matter,” he says.
Nupur Alankar, care committee (mental and physical Health Department), CINTAA, adds, “As per the CINTAA constitution, there is a limited amount [that former members are eligible for]. We have offered her the sum, and will manage the rest through fundraisers.”
Ali has been part of many popular shows, including Saans and Bepannaah, in her 36-year career. The actor, whose health deteriorated after she was diagnosed with diabetes, says that she initially refrained from seeking help as she struggled over the past four years. “On the work front, I’d get many scripts, but the projects would fall through at the last minute. My sugar level shot up, and I am on insulin. The diabetes has affected my eyesight so much that every 40 days, I have to get scans done. Basis the report, the doctor decides whether I should be given an injection in my eyes or opt for laser.”
The actor, 54, took the struggles on the chin, believing that the tough phase will pass. She adds that Neena Gupta, Sumeet Raghavan and Sushant Singh lent her a helping hand during her difficult times. “Johny Lever and several people called me yesterday [after learning of my condition]. Now, I have to gather myself and start working again.”
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Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 7, 2021)
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to work drying up, which meant no income flow for many artistes. Actor Shagufta Ali, unfortunately, is one of them and is in dire need of financial help. A popular face, she has been part of shows like Saans, Parampara and Junoon among others, and has been working since ’89. But due to her ill health, she hasn’t been able to work for the last four years. A cancer survivor, the actor had to sell her car and jewellery to makes ends meet.
“People close to me knew about my problems and the war I have been fighting. I have been a private person but my health issues and financial troubles have been many,” she says.
Right now, she needs help to pay her monthly bills and other expenses including treatment for diabetes and eyesight. Once better, she wants to start work. Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has reached out to her offering help. “I will accept their help but they, too, can’t do much beyond a point. I’m a self-made person and asking for help is my last resort,” she explains.
“This field is uncertain. Due to the pandemic, things are tough but five years ago, when I was active, the industry gave regular work. I haven’t acted in the last four years which has led to this tough situation,” she concludes.
I found an angel in Akshay Kumar-Nupur Alankar
8:30 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 18, 2020)
Like most of us, actress Nupur Alankar had saved penny by penny, over the years, thinking that it would help her tide through rainy days. However, today, even with a healthy ‘bank balance’, she is grappling with acute financial distress. So much so, she can’t afford medical intervention for her mother, who is suffering from multiple health complications, including Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and pulmonary hypertension.
Nupur’s life turned upside down following the Punjab & Maharashtra Co-Operative (PMC) Bank collapse last year. Her family’s accounts, including her own, were frozen. To make ends meet, she sold off her jewellery and also borrowed money from her friends and relatives. She tells BT, “My mother had a mild heart attack in 2018. She couldn’t take the PMC collapse and suffered three more attacks on October 8, 13 and December 8, last year. However, she refused to be hospitalised, fearing that it would be a costly affair. I started practising alternative therapies as a secondary source of income, but it stopped due to the Coronavirus pandemic. By then, we had exhausted all our savings. My husband (Alankar Srivastava) and I had no choice but to rent out our flat for extra money and shift with our respective parents. However, the lockdown worsened my financial woes as my tenant vacated the flat. I had to borrow money to repay her down payment.”
Friends and members from the fraternity did help, but eventually, she had to explore other options. She shares, “Help poured in from many friends, but the medical and other expenses kept rising. Then came a point where I started approaching various NGOs for free medicines. Soon, I realised that things had further spiralled out of control. That’s when I posted the details regarding my mother’s health complications on a crowdfunding platform. I was apprehensive initially, but my friend, actress Rajeshwari Sachdev, convinced me to do it for the sake of my mother. I have no shame in asking people for money, it’s for my mother’s treatment. I am especially grateful to Akshay Kumar, Renuka Shahane, Ayub Khan, Hetal Parmar, Darshan Jariwala, Manoj Joshi and CINTAA for helping me.”
However, the struggle is not over yet. Nupur says, “My mother can’t be hospitalised because of her flailing health, which makes her more susceptible to the novel Coronavirus. For now, we will have to make do with whatever medical aid we can arrange for her at home.”
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Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 18, 2020)
On June 9, actor Renuka Shahane had, in a Facebook post, sought financial help for her friend, actor Nupur Alankar. A few days later, they found an “angel” in actor Akshay Kumar.
“An angel from our film industry has helped Nupur…At a time when there is this raging debate about people not being there for each other, this angel has proved that there are gems like him who will stand by someone in need…@akshaykumar ji A man with a heart of pure, unadulterated gold,” Shahane tweeted.
Alankar was in need of ₹6,00,000 for her mum’s treatment, and her social media appeal caught Shahane’s attention. “I feel Akshay sir is bhagwan ka roop,” Alankar continues, “He doesn’t know me, yet he came to my aid. I don’t have words to express how grateful I am. He didn’t ask for any papers or test reports; he transferred more than what I needed to my mother’s account. I can never thank him enough.”
Many people feel ke actor hai and help maang rahi hai, which is embarrassing too-Renuka Shahane
8:37 AM
Kavita Awassthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 12, 2020)
After the limit put on withdrawals from the scam-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank last year, actor Nupur Alankar, who has been part of many TV serials, had to sell her jewellery to survive. But now, she is facing financial distress as her ailing mother needs hospitalisation. Alankar took to her social media to seek funds urgently, and that caught her good friend actor Renuka Shahane’s attention, who in turn posted details on her Facebook page.
When Shahane read Alankar’s post, she was stunned and spoke to Alankar to understand the situation. She contributed and also asked her if she could share the post on Facebook. Shahane says, “So many people across India are facing financial trouble, not just actors. I have known Nupur for years. She is a khuddar girl and her problem stems from the PMC bank. If she could access her fixed deposits, she would be okay. It is a horrible situation to be in and Coronavirus has added to her troubles. The lockdown has affected the entertainment industry in a huge manner as we can’t work from home. Most actors don’t ask for help publicly as there are NGOs and even religious charitable institutions that help out.”
Shahane is glad that things are looking up for Alankar, who informed her that she has been getting help from people and hopes to raise ₹6 lakh soon. The actor-director adds, “Many people feel ke actor hai and help maang rahi hai, which is embarrassing too, but not all actors earn in crores. The real situation is not true to the perception that once you are an actor, you are set for life. There is so much competition in the industry, and if they don’t manage their money in a smart manner, then it is a tough situation for many. Today, due to the lockdown, everyone is in a bad situation and while some might be fine for the time being, they are worried about their futures.”
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