Small-screen big packets

With the boom in the television industry, actors are being paid hefty amounts these days.

Though she is out of the prime saas bahu saga Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Smriti Z Iraani continues to be the highest paid actress on the small-screen. Though, she is now concentrating on production and is even acting in them, she is charging a huge amount for her innings in Zee’s Teen Bahuraniyaan — Rs 75,000 per day. The next one in question is the perennial Parvati bhabi aka Saakshi Tanwar. She charges around Rs 50,000 per day. Balaji has no qualms in paying her well because she has been one of the most loyal actors that the production has ever had.

 Shweta Tiwari, who has been around for almost seven years with her Prerna act in Kasautii Zindagi Kay (it just went off air), is the third highest paid actress. Until now she was charging around Rs 42,000 per day. However, now she has asked for Rs 45,000 for her snaky act in Aruna Irani’s Naginn.

 Mona Singh has always been an A-lister after her hugely popular ugly-duckling-turned-swan act in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. However, she has not done any fiction show after that besides reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

Zee’s lead actresses like Rajshri Thakur (Saloni of Saat Phere) and Divyanka Tripathi (Vidya in Banoo Main Teri Dulhann) though very successful, don’t command a high price as the show is their only success. For example, Divyanka started with Rs 3,000 per day. It was increased to Rs 20,000 after she put her foot down.