The Bollywood film industry has faced significant challenges recently with many movies underperforming at the box office, which fueled the debate of high-pay cheques demanded by actors. Producers have expressed frustration over actors demanding exorbitant fees that don’t go align with their on-screen performance, especially when faced with a series of flops. Addressing the ongoing discussion of pay cheques and pay disparity, Rajeev Khandelwal shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with PeepingMoon. The Showtime actor accuses producers of starting this trend and now they are the ones complaining.
Rajeev Khandelwal who was last seen on Showtime agreed to pay disparity and said, “See, this is an industry where people only would salute your success, which is not just my industry, it is in every industry. Ughte Surag ko sab Salam karate hai chamakte suraaj ko sab salaam karte hai, Woh success ka ek pehlu hai. Aur jab aise hota hai toh jo packages ki hum baat karte hai usme there will be disparity.”
Speaking to PeppingMoon he said, “The talk which is going on is that it is going beyond control. Now it's become difficult to control them, which I think and I've been saying this, if today producers have problems with certain actors demanding a certain kind of pay package, then let me just remind those producers that you are the ones who created those actors and these demands.”
Blaming the producers, Khandelwal said, “Aapne agar pehle hi bola hota ki aaapki mummy and wife humare kharche pe shoot pe naahi aayengi ya aaapkaa parivaar humare kharche pe khana nahi khayegaa ya 5-star hotel me nahi rahega toh ye problem kabhi aati nahi. Aap hi ne ye start kiya aur ab aap hi ko takleef horai hai. I think you created these and now you're dealing with them.”
Rajeev Khandelwal made a debut in Bollywood with Aamir bringing his years of television experience. He has featured in several movies namely Table No. 21, Pranaam, Bloody Daddy, and more. Rajeev who is a well-known actor recently starred in the Karan Johar backed web series Showtime also starring Emraan Hashmi and Mouni Roy.
