The topic of actor exploitation and the expense of a celebrity’s entourage has not ended, nor has there been any progress in finding a solution. Veteran actor Rajit Kapur recently discussed the plight of actors, who frequently work for free or very little pay in order to pursue opportunities. The actor discussed the absence of a system in the film industry and the need for advocates for actors’ rights.
During a conversation with Unfiltered by Samdish, Rajit asserted that the primary cause of the pay gap is the absence of a system. He shared, “There is no system in place. The casting agencies came only five years ago. Earlier, directors and assistant directors would call for actors who would be sitting there, waiting from three days. You just choose and select. There’s no person who is ready to fight for an actor’s money. Even today there is exploitation. Even if you deserve Rs 20,000, they will say, ‘If you wanna do this, do it for Rs 10,000. Otherwise there are lot of people waiting for one opportunity.’ It happens till date.”
When asked if things had gotten any better for the actors since casting agencies were introduced, Rajit Kapur said immediately, “You think its professional now, because its packaged like that, but it is not. In corporate offices, employees have to be paid their salaries within 7 days or maximum 15 days. But actors are not paid for up to 90 days. What do they do? If you will stand up against a producer, there is a possibility of you not getting any work. That exploitation still exists.”
He further added, “We have the discussion in the open that ‘we are paying stars 50% of the film’s budget’ and for your supporting cast, ‘sir, we don’t have money.’ I have heard this line, so I was like, ‘Thank you, when you have the money, call me. Don’t waste my time.’ I have done that.”
The actor went on to say that while chances have undoubtedly increased since the advent of OTT, exploitation hasn’t changed. He said that OTT has certainly expanded opportunities, but this does not necessarily mean that exploitation does not exist. Foreign technicians are still being paid exorbitant amounts, while actors are not receiving fair compensation. Some actors are even working for free simply because they are grateful for the chance to showcase their talents.