From managing the actors, directors, crew members to their food and drinks on the sets of the film, the spotboy is responsible for everything. He is also called Spot Dada. However, the situation is such that people say you can be anything, but never be a spotboy.
These people work for 20 hours on each set, but there is no guarantee when they will get the salary money. Producers and producers also abuse them. Sometimes they even beat but still these people bear everything silently for fear of not getting work.
So today in this episode of 'Reel to Real', we spoke to Spotboy Santhosh, Rakesh Dubey and Cine Workers Association head Suresh Shyamalal Gupta to know the situation of Spotboy.
This episode is divided into two chapters. In the first chapter, there is information about Spotboy from getting a job to his salary, while in the second chapter, Spotboy's bonding with celebs will be talked about.
Chapter- 1
Spotboy works 20-20 hours In the 80s-90s, spotboys had to work only 8 hours per shift. However, there is no fixed time now. Like actors, they have to work for 20 hours. Many a times the work load becomes so much that they have to sleep on the sets.
15-20 spotboys are required for shooting the film If a TV show is being shot, 5-6 spotboys are required. Whereas, the presence of 15-20 spotboys is required on the sets for the shooting of the film. However, this number also increases depending on the project. All these work charges are determined by Spotboy.
Spotboy's payment is withheld for a whole year Spotboy's payment is not fixed. He gets 1500 to 2000 rupees for a day's shooting.
Regarding Spotboy's payment, Suresh says – The country has become free, but it has not benefited them. They don't get payment on time. If he has worked continuously for one month then he gets salary after 4-6 months. Sometimes payments are withheld for up to a year. There are also many cases where payment is not received at all.
I have seen a couple of cases where the production house talks about paying a fee of Rs 50,000 initially, but after the film is made, asks to settle for a fee of only Rs 25,000, citing damages.
Most spotboys get work only 4-5 days in a month Spotboy's job is not fixed. Sometimes they have work, sometimes they don't. Most of the spotboys get work only 4-5 days in a month. All the money is used for household expenses. Children have to work hard to meet their fees and other needs.
Many do not find work for months at a time. Some have not found work for years. Either they have taken up other jobs or their wives are taking care of the household expenses.
Santosh said- We struggle a lot, but no one listens to us Santosh says- we struggle a lot, but no one listens to us. I started working in 1998-99. At that time the situation was worse. Many sets did not have AC. An artist's makeup was most prone to spoilage in the summer. In such conditions we used to air them with big fans on our shoulders. We ourselves were drenched in sweat.
Even today the situation has not improved much. Like, on the sets first we have to feed the actors, artistes and directors. Then when it's our turn we are assigned several tasks. Not even seeing that we are eating. We have to leave everything and do their work first.
Some artists care about us. People like late Siddharth Shukla, Jennifer Winget are in this list. So stars like Kushal Tandon get angry over the smallest things.
Suresh Shyamalal Gupta said that there are 3-4 ways to get work for spotboys. Most of the work is obtained through word of mouth publicity. No degree is required for this.
'Film industry people are cruel, they don't care about our safety' Cine Workers Association chief Suresh Shyamalal Gupta said, 'It will not be wrong to call the people of the film industry monsters. Crores of films are made, artists' fees also go into crores, but there is no security system for spotboys. Many a times sets are burnt down due to fire and people die. Later the matter is suppressed. Family members don't even get compensation.'
'Such things cannot come out. There is a lobby of producers in this industry. They try to hide each other's reality. Spotboys do not talk openly about this issue for fear of not getting work.
The situation is so bad that sometimes the production people beat them. The director-producer swears.
Chapter- 2- Now read the cases of relationship between spotboys and celebs…
If asked for 1700 rupees, Jackie Shroff offered to give 70 thousand rupees. Rakesh Dubey worked with Jackie Shroff. About this he said- I heard that Jackie Dada always helps everyone a lot. He is a good hearted person.
One day I was in dire need of money. There was no other way. Finally gathering courage, Jackie went to Grandpa. Said to him, grandfather, my house is broken and the children are hungry. He asked me 'how much money is required.' I said not much, just 1700 rupees. He asked his son to send Rs 70,000 to my house.'
'I refused saying I don't need so much money. Then the next day his man came to my house and gave me 1900 rupees and made me talk to Jackie Dada.'
Rakesh Dubey acted as Spotboy in Jackie Shroff's film 'Doodh Ka Karz'
Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan helped in the lockdown Rakesh said that there are many celebs who help Spotboy in bad times. Like Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan did during the lockdown. Regarding this, he said, 'During Kovid, my condition became very bad. Talked to many people, published news in many places, but no one helped.'
'Once I got help from the Sangh. From there got help of 3000 rupees and got ration of 1.5 thousand rupees. I came to know that it was given to Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan. Apart from that, there was no help from anywhere.'
Got 2 slaps for Rs 1200 from Sunil Shetty About the experience of working with Sunil Shetty, Rakesh said, 'Once I was working with Sunil Shetty. At that time there was not much money for work. I went to Sunil Shetty and stood. He asked why are you standing here? I hesitated and said, Sir I want 1200 rupees. It came out of my mouth that I will give later. He gave me money while shooting at Film City. Thereafter, whenever Sunil Shetty sir saw me working, he would come and ask me where my money was. I used to say that sir, I don't have it now, I will earn and give it.'
Similarly, after 20-25 days he called again and asked for money. He was very angry at that time. He called me in the vanity van of 'Filmistan' and then asked. I said, now my work is closed, I will give it later. He said 'then why did he say I will return it'. He killed me with two pulls. I thought, it doesn't matter, he is a big man and I have taken money too, it doesn't matter if he hits me in the van. It will be fine. At that time I held my ears and said that I will never take money from anyone'.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
