A survey has found that many people working in entertainment are getting far less work or being paid much less than before, with earnings down by nearly 50 to 60 per cent for many of them. The slowdown has hit the industry's biggest stars far less than the workers who keep sets running day after day.
Character actors, assistant directors, makeup artists, personal gym trainers attached to actors, lightmen, camera crews, spot boys, production assistants, editors, equipment vendors and technical staff are among those taking the hardest hit. Most depend entirely on daily shoots and project-based income, and several have now been forced to stretch savings, borrow from relatives and friends, or take temporary side jobs just to cover rent and household expenses.
The pain is showing up most sharply in Mumbai, where most production companies, casting agencies and entertainment offices are based in Andheri, Juhu and Bandra. Renting even a small apartment in those localities can cost nearly ₹50,000 a month, a burden that has become harder to carry as film budgets shrink, digital platforms turn more cautious and producers postpone projects because of uncertainty in the market.
The slowdown has been building for several months, and its effects now run through the entire entertainment chain. When fewer films and shows go into production, actors, costume vendors, set workers, camera rental agencies and transport operators all feel the strain, while many freelancers are waiting months for dues on work they have already completed. Some technicians and support workers have already returned to their hometowns after failing to find stable work in Mumbai.
The gap between the industry's headline names and everyone else is now hard to miss. Leading actors and established names continue to secure major projects and high remuneration, while junior and mid-level workers are left chasing short assignments and delayed payments in a city where the cost of staying put keeps rising. For them, this is not a temporary dip. It is a squeeze on the people who are least protected and most exposed to every pause in production.
