As the issue threatens to snowball into a bigger face-off between actors and producers, there seems to be a quick closing of ranks.
Are TV stars being treated like bonded labour or are they taking undue advantage of their mentors? The battle lines seem drawn between producers and actors...
MUMBAI: While actor Pulkit Samrat, who plays Lakshya in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has taken his one trime mentor Ektaa Kapoor to court for alleged non-payment of dues and stopping him from working with other producers because of a three-year contract with Balaji Telefilms, there’s a twist to the tale.
Fumes Ektaa says, “If I let Pulkit get away with these lies, I will be damned. After giving him a break, he makes me sound like a tyrant. In the past we have let actors Mouni Roy, Karan Patel, Prachi Desai and Jai Bhanushali work outside. So, why not him?”
She adds, “The reason for this problem is that after telling us for months that he had a back problem and not reporting for shooting, he was busy clubbing at night. The production house has cried because he was so troublesome. Now we will put damages on him, which he will have to pay.”
As the issue threatens to snowball into a bigger face-off between actors and producers, there seems to be a quick closing of ranks.
Says producer-director Deeya Singh, “We take new faces and groom them. It takes us a lot of time and effort to make them into better actors so that they grow into the character. Big monies are at stake on every actor so it is unfair if they leave our shows in the lurch for other projects. I feel actors must commit to one show for at least two years. The producers must get their due for putting in so much effort behind an actor.”
While many actors are aggrieved by the what they see as constrictions on their career growth and often have run-ins with their one time mentors (see box) they also see the bright side of such contracts.
Says actor Jai Bhanushali, who is a Balaji loyalist, “I don't see any disadvantage in such contracts. And I am talking from my personal experience. I am also into an exclusive contract with Balaji Telefilms. There is nothing wrong in such contracts because it provides me work security.”
Argues Deeya Singh, “Such contracts should be mutual. When we signed Mona Singh for Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, it worked for both of us. Had she taken up any other show while she was acting in it, the whole impact of the serial would have fallen flat. And it's not that the actors are being forced into signing such contracts. They do so because they want work and money. It is not fair for them to complain unnecessarily. I want the clause of exclusivity to exist in contracts.”
k_farhana@dnaindia.net, p_sapana@dnaindia.net
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