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Actor MM Faruqui, known by his screen name Lilliput, feels the biggest difference between working in the television industry in earlier times and the current time is the payment system. Currently, the actors are paid 90 days after finishing their job, while earlier, they were paid immediately. For Lilliput, popular for his roles in Vikram Aur Betaal and Dekh Bhai Dekh, the current payment system is “dishonest” and “inhuman”.
Speaking to Rajshri Unplugged, Lilliput shared how artists were well off in times when the country’s financial growth was slow as they received their fees on time. He said, “In our times, the artist used to come, do his work, get his fees in the evening and leave. But today, the artist comes, works all day long and gets the payment after 90 days. When our country was poor, people used to get their money on time and would get conveyance also. But now, when our country is rich, the artist neither gets the conveyance nor does he get the proper money.”
The actor who made his Bollywood with the 1985 film Saagar refers to the 90-day payment system as a “tragedy” for the industry.
He added, “This is a very big tragedy for the industry. These people, be it the producers or channels, blame each other, but whatever it is, actors or technicians, they are helpless. Be it a washerman, doctor, merchant or anyone, nobody takes the money after 90 days? They need to be paid immediately. This 90-day payment system is a sign of ‘kalyug’. So much inhumanity? So much dishonesty? It’s not good. We need to improve and bring back the kindness.”
Earlier, producer J D Majethia had explained how the payment structure works. He said there is a 60-90 day cycle for payments from advertisers to broadcasters to producers to artists and technicians.
“There is a minimum gap of two-three months from when we start shooting and when our shows go on air. Plus, there is GST that producers pay in advance and shoot expenses plus monthly salaries, which makes the cost of production high when the show goes on air. The 90-day cycle is decided keeping in mind all these variables, including the fact that it takes months to sometimes break even. But not paying after 90 days is not acceptable,” he told PTI in an earlier interview.
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