Staff payments would lessen producers' burden: Mukesh Bhatt

Mukesh Bhatt, vice president of the Film and Producers Guild of India, says it was important to take the decision of staff payments by actors themselves to safeguard a producer's self-esteem and reduce financial burden on them.

"I met all the top actors and told them that it is important to solve this problem for a producer's self-esteem and self-respect. It is not possible for them to pay like this," the 60-year-old said here.

The Producers Guild on July 25 decided that the actors will have to shell out money from their own pockets for payments to be made to their staff, since such charges for some actors was turning out to be as high as Rs.50,000 a day.

"When I approached them (actors), they were very positive and understood the problem and agreed in five minutes. They said if it is a question of a producer's self-esteem and about service tax, then we are with the producers," he added.

Bhatt feels as the industry completes 100 years, it is important to bring a few changes for its betterment.

"We are talking about 100 years of cinema, it is important for us to bring a change in our home. If we won't do it, who would? This is the first step and I am happy that we have got good support till now and I hope for such support in future also so we can make this industry a heaven," he said.