Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai Producer Binaifer Kohli Says Highly Paid Actors Not Ready To Take Pay Cuts, Can't Replace Them
Binaifer Upset with Actors Over Not Taking Pay Cut
Updated : June 24, 2020 09:52 PM IST
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the entertainment industry hard. There have been no film releases for the past three months with the cinema halls shut and nothing is known about the reopening of the theatres. The TV industry suffers too as shoots have been stalled and recently FWICE and CINTAA called off the shoots ready to shoot off a few shows alleging that the producers were not ready to adhere to guidelines and shoot for 8 hours instead of on the standard 12 hours shifts.
TV producer of the show Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai, Binaifer Kohli has now claimed that an 8-hour-shift wouldn't be enough, and she gave a fair explanation for this. Binaifer told Pinkvillla, "An 8-hour shift doesn’t work for me because how will I make a bank in that? First, I have to test 40-50 people with a thermal gun, then an oximeter, have to mark their daily report. Apart from this, I am not allowed to have anyone in the sets when the actors are there. Lightmen will check the lighting then go out, then the actors will go out and they will check for another angle, so if you see an episode which would have taken one and a half-day, will now take two and a half days. Then there is a staggered lunch break. How do we work and with what output? We have to stay on-air with a bank of episodes in case there are small closures."
The producer further shed light on pay cut of the actors and said, they were not willing to take a pay cut, "All those who are highly paid and say that they will not take pay cuts, and we are told we can’t replace the actors, why? I can’t afford them, no? If I own a saree shop, and I can’t afford to keep a Banarasi saree I will only show you other material, right? Whatever is viable from the business point of view, the channel will do."
The producer concluded by saying that with just 33 percent of the crew members on the set and the monsoon at hand, things are going to being increasingly difficult.