Not all's well in Bollywood! Behind-the-scenes workers see 50-60% decline in income: Report

Not everything is going well in Bollywood. While the Hindi film industry has delivered one of the biggest hits of the year with Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar: The Revenge, many people working behind the scenes continue to struggle financially. Even though the behind-the-scenes workers struggle to pay house rents due to dwindling projects, the A-listers remain unfazed and continue to command high fees.

According to a survey by The Top India, several workers in the entertainment industry have seen their income fall by nearly 50 to 60 per cent compared to previous years due to tighter production budgets, careful spending by OTT platforms and delays in approving new films and shows.

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Among those affected are assistant directors, makeup artists, character actors, editors, lightmen, camera operators, production assistants, spot staff and even gym trainers linked to actors. Equipment suppliers, transport providers and camera rental companies have also suffered because fewer projects are being made.

Since Bollywood mostly works on a freelance system, many people are paid project by project and do not have fixed salaries. This means that even a small delay in a film, web series or advertisement shoot can affect the income of hundreds of workers.

It further said that many workers said projects have become less frequent, and even when work is available, the pay is lower than before. Mid-level and junior professionals are finding it hardest to get regular work.

Industry insiders quoted in the survey said production houses have become more careful with spending, while OTT platforms are taking longer to approve new projects. Although the slowdown is affecting workers across regions, people working in Mumbai’s film industry are reportedly facing the biggest pressure because of the city’s high living costs.

Most production houses, studios and casting offices are located in areas like Andheri, Juhu and Bandra. Because of this, many workers are forced to live nearby despite expensive rents.

Even small apartments in these areas can cost around or more than ₹50,000 a month, which makes it difficult for workers with irregular income to survive.

To manage expenses, many workers are using their savings or borrowing money from friends and relatives. Some have taken up temporary jobs, while others have left Mumbai and returned to their hometowns after failing to find stable work.

The survey was based on conversations with over 1,000 people working in the industry.