Production staff not paid for ‘Ram Leela’

No matter which hot shot is part of a film, the hidden heroes will always be the unrecognised workers who do the day to day running of the films production. So it’s surprising when news of them not being paid on time surfaces. Something Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production team failed to do during the filming of ‘Ram Leela’.

According to Times of India��members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employers (FWICE) turned up on the set on Sunday demanding why the workers had not been paid.

“Payment has been pending for long. I had to go to the set as many workers had been complaining about it. They don’t file complaints fearing they would lose their jobs. Even their conveyance reimbursement was pending for some time,” stated Prem Singh Thakur from the FWICE department.

He further added, “I switched off the lights to get the producers’ attention. Mr Bhansali��asked me what the problem was. I introduced myself and told him about the issue. He immediately called his production assistant and asked him to clear the dues.”

Bhansali denied the allegations, when contacted, however his office have said that all payments will be sent within the week.

A take on Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’, ‘Ram Leela’ stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone and releases late 2013.