Reem Shaikh, a familiar face on Indian television, recently opened up about the harsh realities of the industry. The actress, who’s been working for 15 years, appeared on Bharti Singh’s podcast where some uncomfortable truths about the current state of TV production came to light. While audiences still see glamour on screen, behind the scenes, things have taken a tough turn.
During their conversation, Reem spoke about the growing financial strain. She pointed out how difficult it has become to even get a proper set in Filmcity these days. She said, “Having a set in Filmcity is a privilege now. No outdoor schedules happen anymore, and no one is willing to have a set before Naigaon, which takes four hours to travel to and fro.” This highlighted how location budgets have shrunk dramatically.
Haarsh Limbachiyaa, also present, didn’t hold back. He agreed with Reem, explaining that big-budget shows have almost disappeared. According to Haarsh, “Very few big shows like Laughter Chef are being made today. Budgets have reduced. I am seeing such a big show after 3-4 years. Now it feels like TV is struggling. It is on a down curve.”
Reem further shared how this financial crunch has affected actors. She reflected on her career, recalling that after finishing three successful shows, she expected her earnings to rise. She had hoped to earn somewhere between ₹1.5 to ₹2 lakhs per day, amounts that senior actors were paid over a decade ago. Sadly, reality turned out to be far from those numbers. Reem admitted that after so many years in the business, payments are nowhere near those figures. As a child artist, she earned modest amounts, and now as an adult, budgets have only fallen.
Bharti Singh chimed in with her views, observing how producers now expect even more work while paying less. The conversation revealed how not just actors, but everyone from directors to technicians is struggling.
Haarsh recalled how he was once astonished to learn that Shweta Tiwari was paid ₹1 lakh per day for Kasautii Zindagi Kay. Now, those days seem long gone. He spoke candidly about the misconceptions surrounding TV artists’ earnings. People often assume celebrities are earning massive amounts simply because they appear on multiple shows. In reality, Haarsh admitted that both he and Bharti have been living on loans. He pointed out that if they refused work, someone else would immediately take their place.
To add humor to the heavy discussion, Bharti joked, “We are so much on loans that even when the milkman comes, we think an agent has come to take the loan back.” Though light-hearted, her words reflected a grim truth.
Haarsh also shared his disbelief at online claims about celebrity fees. He spoke about seeing a video suggesting that Krushna Abhishek earned ₹35 lakhs per episode. Haarsh laughed it off, saying he even called Krushna to ask for money if he was earning so much. This exposed the gap between public perception and industry reality.
The situation has led many, including Bharti and Haarsh, to turn towards YouTube and other digital platforms for survival. Haarsh explained that earlier when casting for a lead, the per-day pay would start at ₹5000. Now, actors often settle for less.
Reem revealed another worrying trend. She mentioned how actors are now being offered fixed monthly salaries instead of per-day payments. She explained that performers are hired for ₹50000 a month and expected to work 22 to 30 days. Those without side incomes, especially through social media, struggle the most in this setup. With rising living costs and shrinking budgets, the TV industry’s financial crisis is leaving its artists with difficult choices and uncertain futures.
