#2020Rewind: TV celebs who faced financial crisis during nationwide lockdown

The year 2020 has been hard on the entertainment industry. Several television celebs went out of work due to the lockdown and subsequent halt of shoots. Their financial troubles multiplied. It led some to come out in the public to seek financial aid. Sadly, a few also died by suicide due to the extreme crunch they faced.

The 'Sasural Simar Ka' actor, who passed away last month due to health woes, had made his financial difficulties apparent in the month of May. The actor was not able to manage the mounting hospital bills needed for his treatment. He had complained of the same and lack of work in his interview to BT. He had said, "I was already facing a money crunch and the situation has worsened owing to the lockdown. I had savings of Rs 2 lakh, which I spent during the first two days of being hospitalised." He was being helped by his sister in Kolkata and a few of his friends, but the money he claimed wasn't sufficient to sail him through.

Rajesh played Shivangi Joshi's reel father in Begusarai. In June, the actor shared a heartbreaking video where he sought financial help from the public by saying, 'Mein jeena chahta hun'. He shared that he was out of work before lockdown but things became even worse later. He revealed in his video that he was living in Mumbai for a long time but wants to go to his hometown and look for work. He requested everyone to help him sail through the crisis. Later, he posted another video where he thanked people from the industry including Shivangi Joshi for the support as he got the much needed help.

Nupur, who has featured in several shows including Swaragini, Tantra and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon Ek Baar Phir, was another actor who faced financial difficulties during the lockdown. Last year, the actress had lost her savings in the Pune & Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank after it collapsed and this year, her mother needed to undergo treatment. Due to lack of funds, the actress felt helpless but it was her good friend Renuka Shahane who came to her aid. Renuka posted a message on Facebook asking for donations for which Nupur thanked her.

During the lockdown, another actor who was fighting with the producers of his show for non-payment of his dues was actor Zaan Khan. He had shared that the cast of the show including him had not received payment for the work they did for about seven to eight months. The lockdown only strained them for money which had been due since June 2019. He had said, "We started shooting for the show in April and it went on air in May. The first payment — for 15 days — was made after 100 days. We were under the impression that they would clear the dues since the show was doing well. They gave me a cheque last year, which bounced. When we started asking for money, they claimed they have run into losses, which we don’t think is true. They have received their money from the channel. So far, we have got only seven per cent of our dues. We are helpless and don’t know what to do in this situation." (Photo: Instagram)

Supporting Zaan's claim, Chahat Pandey, who played the female lead in Hamari Bahu Silk, came forth and shared with ETimes TV how the producers were not paying them their dues. She said, "Whatever savings I had from my previous shows I exhausted while working on Hamari Bahu Silk. During that time, I kept asking the producers to give my hard-earned money but they kept saying that the channel had not paid them. Things got out of hand for me as I had no money. I had to pay rent for my house. The landlord kept asking me for money and I didn't have any. How long can anyone wait for their money? Ultimately, the landlord asked me to either give him his money or vacate the place. I had no other option, I went to one of the producer's offices and cried in front of him. I weeped as I was feeling helpless. I pleaded in front of him to give my money, but he did not pay any heed to my request." (Photo: Instagram)

Sonal couldn't stop herself from sharing the heartwarming gesture of her driver. In a post on social media, Sonal shared that she had landed in financial trouble during the lockdown. Just like actors of Hamari Bahu Silk, she had not been paid by the producer of 'Yeh Teri Galliyan'. She revealed she was struggling to make her ends meet when she got in touch with her driver to know if he was doing okay. Sonal shared he rather offered Sonal Rs 15000 after learning she was facing financial difficulty and asked her to pay it later during his wife's delivery. (Photo: Instagram)

The actor, who played Lord Indra in BR Chopra's Mahabharat was already going through a tough time financially when his acting school closed and things only got worse during lockdown when he didn't have enough to meet necessities. He told PTI, "I'm struggling for medicines, groceries and basic needs. I appeal to the industry people to help me. I got so much love as an actor, I need some attention now as a human in need. I'm staying in a small rented place in Ludhiana. I was staying in an old age home earlier but then I'm here at this place with my good samaritan Satya Devi. My health is ok, I'm doing fine but the lockdown has made matters worse." Actress Priti Sapru had told BT that Satish is broke. She added he had broken his backbone three years ago, which made him dependent on others.

Aadat Se Majboor actor Manmeet Grewal died by suicide on May 15 due to financial crisis. The actor had loans to pay and no work which caused him immense stress. All his projects were halted due to the lockdown and this made him slip into depression. His wife had also revealed that the actor had plans to move out of the country and settle abroad but everything was hindered due to the lockdown.

Balika Vadhu director Ram Vriksha Gaur took over his father's business of selling vegetables in Azamgarh, UP, on a handcart after several of his projects were put on hold due to the pandemic. Talking to IANS, he had said, "I had come to Azamgarh for a film. We were here when the lockdown was announced and then it was not possible to return. The project we were working on was stopped and the producer said it would take another year or more to get back to work. I then decided to take on my father's business and started selling vegetables on a handcart. I am familiar with the business and have no regrets." Anup Soni, who had worked with him, had reacted to the news and shared, "It's sad... Our Balika Vadhu team got to know and getting in touch with him to help...(sic)"