Seasoned actress Kunickaa Sadanand, who returned to television last year with the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss 19', has spoken out about the persistent issue of delayed payments for new TV actors. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the 'Bigg Boss 19' contestant revealed that this problem has been ongoing since the boom in the television industry.
Understanding the Payment Delay
Kunickaa explained that payments are often delayed by 45 to 90 days. She attributed the delay to the corporate structure of the industry: money first comes from advertisers to channels, then from channels to producers, and finally to artists. This chain inevitably leads to delays.
She told IANS, “Such issues have been going on for many years. Since the boom in the television industry, payments to producers have often been delayed by 45–90 days by channels. Channels themselves receive advertising payments late. This is because it is a corporate system. Bringing change in this structure is a bit difficult. The money first comes from advertisers to the channels, then from channels to producers, so delays naturally occur in the process...”
Suggested Solutions
Kunickaa proposed that artists should negotiate their fees slightly higher than what they believe they deserve to account for potential delays. However, she acknowledged a drawback: asking for even a small increase, like Rs 500, could result in the producer hiring another artist instead. She emphasized the need for a buffer system in everyone's life, though she admitted this is not always feasible. She noted that large production houses like Balaji have significant reserves and can be expected to pay on time.
Industry-Wide Concern
This is not the first time the issue of payment delays has been raised in the TV industry. Earlier, actors Varun Badola and Arjun Bijlani had also highlighted the problem. The ongoing discussion underscores the need for structural changes to ensure timely payments for artists.
