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The TV industry is often seen as a platform for glamour, popularity and success, but the world behind the scenes is sometimes not as simple as it appears. While the audience watches their favorite artists on screen every day, these artists, especially the new faces, have to face serious challenges like economic instability.
New Delhi. Actress Kunika Sadanand recently spoke openly on this sensitive issue and said that one of the biggest problems for small and new TV actors is not getting payment on time. According to Kunika, delay in payment in the industry is not a temporary or new problem, but it is part of a long-standing system. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
He said that the pace of work in the TV industry may have increased, but the economic process still passes through many levels. Usually artists have to wait for 45 to 90 days to get the money for their hard work. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
According to him, the main reason for this is the corporate structure of the industry, in which first the advertisers pay the channels, then the channels release the amount to the producers and finally the money reaches the artists. The delay in this entire process has the biggest impact on those artists who do not have a strong base of financial security. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
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This situation becomes more difficult for new artists. At the beginning of their career they have to make many compromises to get work. Keeping fees low, continuing work despite long waits, and sustaining themselves amid uncertainty all become part of their struggle. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
Kunika suggested that artistes should be practical while deciding their fees and ask for an amount that they can support themselves even if there is a delay in payment. However, he also admitted that it is not easy to do this, because demanding higher fees can sometimes lead to snatching of opportunities. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
He also stressed the need for ‘buffer system’. She says that artists should have enough financial balance that their lives are not affected in case of delays. But the truth is that this is not possible for most of the new artists struggling in the industry. Living in a city like Mumbai, giving auditions, building networks and meeting daily expenses is already challenging, in such a situation, delay in payment increases both mental and financial pressure for them. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
Praising the big production houses, Kunika said that the institutions which have strong reserve funds have more chances of timely payment. But this problem is more visible in setups with small banners and limited resources. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)
This issue is not just a personal experience, but a question related to the structure of the entire industry. Even before this, many artists have expressed their concern on this, but Kunika especially talked about those new faces, whose voices often get suppressed. (Photo courtesy Instagram iam_kunickaasadanand)