By Anil Merani: The sudden departure of Alisha Parveen from the Star Plus show Anupamaa has brought to light the glaring disparities in the TV industry’s contract system between actors and production houses.
Alisha was fired without notice by DKP for alleged poor performances
Alisha has been quoted as saying the following “I had 3 year contract, which they mentioned that I can’t leave Anupamaa for three years. As far as the replacement is concerned, nobody writes about it in any contract. They should have given me surety. I have worked really hard to reach this position, but nikalne mein ek second bhi nahi lagta, I had signed a 3-year contract with Anupamaa makers, in which they had mentioned she couldn’t leave the show for three years”. She said: “I wanted to work more on the show. Raaton raat nikal dena was not right. If you have taken a promise from me that I can’t leave the show for the next three years as per contract, you should have also promised me that you will not remove me from it. Raaton raat kisiko bhi show se nikal dena bahut galat baat hai. Aap mentally uske sapno ke saath khel rahe hain.”
Interestingly, if you read nowhere, she said it was illegal, or she would challenge her termination. Everybody in the industry knows that contracts are skewed in favour of the production house, who can quickly throw out anybody. Actors, on the other hand, have to sign a no-exit clause.
Production houses incorporated such clauses after a few known actors jumped ship after getting better offers elsewhere.
Thus, in effect, while actors have limited leeway in exits and production, houses can change artists at will. But any decision to change leads will not be taken in haste as it might have disastrous downstream consequences
Actors can and still quit mid-way, but then the production house needs to play ball.
Such contracts are commonplace in the industry and reflect the industry’s power gradient. Actors desperate for a break have no alternative but to toe the line.
The game levels out as the actor rises the value chain. They then demand higher money and better work conditions. Exits
Coming to Alisha, Producer Rajan Shahi personally called to inform her about her exit, which was a good gesture. He did not need to do that.
A notice period would have been nice, but that is now how the industry operates in the real world.
To be fair, the above arrangement, though appearing unfair, is how the cookie crumbles everywhere and not just M & E (Media and Entertainment).
Once actors know they are on notice, they don’t deliver, which might have further affected the output.
Sources also confirm that senior actors in the show did not have a good equation with Alisha, who also played a role in her final ouster.
