Artistes demand payment of dues, no shooting for a day

Shooting of Bengali soaps came to a standstill in various city studios today in response to a ceasework call by the Artist's Forum demanding regularisation of their payment.

Forum General Secretary and actor Arindam Ganguly said, actors arrived on the call time, put up costumes and make-up required for the shoot but refrained from taking part in the shootings on the floor.

"We demand an early solution to the issue of outstanding payments of several serial artistes which had been uncleared for months," Ganguly said.

A serial actress said the ceasework call was given by the Forum in a whatsapp message signed by Arindam Ganguly and actor Prosenjit Chatterjee yesterday night.

Chatterjee who visited a studio said he was hopeful of a breakthrough.

A spokesman of the producers said talks were on to resolve the issue and they were hopeful of an early breakthrough.

Shooting came to a halt in 7-8 studios, located across different areas of south Kolkata, due to the ceasework, the producers said.

The Forum, an organisation of actors and actresses, has 2200 members.