July 1, 2025: Veteran actor Poonam Dhillon has shed light on a harsh reality faced by many television actors today—delayed payments and lack of basic support. She opened up about how small-time actors, often hired for a day or two, struggle to survive while waiting up to 90 days to receive their earnings.
“Earlier, actors were paid by the end of the day or month. But now, especially in television, actors have to wait three months,” Poonam revealed. She emphasised that this issue hits daily-wage actors the hardest—those who earn a few thousand rupees a day and don’t have powerful contracts or legal backing.
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“These actors might only get work for 2–3 days in a month. They’re not stars earning lakhs or crores. If they don’t get paid, they can’t survive. They have kids, bills, and basic expenses to cover,” she explained.
Poonam also highlighted how actors playing minor roles—chauffeurs, waiters, doctors, and lawyers—are expected to travel long distances for work without any transport allowance. “Earlier they were given ₹300 for conveyance. Now even when they ask for ₹500, they’re denied. They’re expected to reach locations that are two hours away on their own dime,” she added.
She also pointed out that big actors have contracts, lawyers, and protection, but smaller artists are often left to fend for themselves.