Director said- Compromise with producer and co-actor: The pain of a foreign woman turned actress; Fear of being blacklisted if you open your mouth

Joanna Ashka, a Poland-based actress working in India, came to Kerala to study. There he started getting film offers. However, the director said something that shattered her dreams. The director said- I am very excited to film with you. I don't want anything from you, but producer and co-star have different demands. Can you reconcile with them? Joanna was shocked to hear the director's words. Joanna said, 'Though I came here to study, I also wanted to try my hand at films. When the director told me this, it felt like all my dreams were shattered in an instant. What happened to Jonah is not the first case. Many such incidents happen every day, but we don't know about them. There is no organization active to protect the interests of foreign actors working in Bollywood. There is no data on how many foreigners are working here. Leaving aside a few names, foreign actors are lost in obscurity. If they can't find work in the industry, some start working in clubs and bars, while others become cheerleaders. Sometimes they are also asked to compromise. Sometimes due to lack of money, some foreign girls get trapped in prostitution. Joanna said- More went wrong with the Russian girls she worked with Joanna continued, 'Even more went wrong with many of the Russian junior girls I worked with. Indeed, he did not have a working visa. She was working here illegally. He was frequently harassed by the production house and co-ordinator. They are told you don't have a working visa so do what you are told. To avoid getting into legal trouble, she agreed to a settlement.' Arbitrary things written in contracts When Joanna arrived here, a talent agency tried to get her to sign a false contract, but she ran away. Joanna said, 'It was written in the contract paper that even if you have worked for a whole month, the agency has the right not to pay even a single rupee if it wants to.' Gangs in Mumbai supply foreigners to film industry Regarding the supply of foreigners to the film industry, Suresh Gupta, president of the Cine Workers Association, says, 'Even a common man needs an identity card to enter the government-run film city, but foreigners enter indiscriminately, with no one checking them. not There are some gangs in Mumbai, which supply foreigners. The gang received Rs. per person from the production company. 80,000 to Rs. 1 lakh, but after the work is done the artist gets Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,000 and embezzles the remaining money himself.' Foreign girls who come to become actresses are made to do wrong things Foreign girls come to India with dreams of becoming actresses, but after coming here they start being exploited. Suresh said, 'Only one girl out of 100 gets a good status, the remaining 99 have to go through exploitation. They are made to do wrong things. They cannot even raise their voice as they fear being blacklisted. If they are blacklisted, they cannot get work anywhere. They are forced to go back to their country. Some do not even have enough money to go back, so they are forced to endure exploitation.' Suresh, who is also involved in Karan Johar's production company, hires 100 people by showing visas of 10 people, further said, 'Many production houses, including Karan Johar's Dharma company, also employ foreigners illegally. They employ 100 people by showing work visas to 10 people. Big production houses make local workers work 16-16 hours without pay, then how can they leave foreigners? The criminal lawyer said- I have come across many cases of exploitation of foreign actors. We spoke to Mumbai-based lawyer Arbaaz Pathan on this matter. He also admitted that foreign actors are exploited in Bollywood. Many such cases have also come against him. He said, 'Foreign actors are called here on false promises. He is also offered work in a film or two, but the real game starts later. They get crushed under the influence of a film. Then many conditions are imposed in the name of giving work in the next film.' Many such victims have come to me. In this, mainly girls suffer more. Not only this, they are often sent for prostitution at rave parties in Mumbai and Goa, where drug parties are also held.' Modeling agencies trick you into signing contracts Lawyer Arbaaz said that modeling agencies are the most common way of cheating foreign artists. He said, 'Modeling agencies make false promises to foreign actors that they will make them super models and give them big roles in films. They are told that if they stay in touch with certain people and stay interactive, they will get more work and become famous. By showing such dreams, they get them to sign a contract for 2-3 years. Under this conspiracy the artist is completely caught in their clutches. When he talks about breaking the contract, money is demanded from him. An artist has no choice. Even help from the police is delayed “Bhagam Bhaag”, “Pharre” and “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”, foreign actor Reek, who has been a part of several films and television shows, said, “There should be an organization for us like Indian actors.” . When we get into trouble, there is no one to protect us.' 'We can't even go to the police. It takes us a long time to convince them. Due to the language barrier, neither we could explain to them nor understand them. Apart from this, a lot of money is also spent. So, we try to appeal only to those with whom we have a dispute. To work in India it is important to understand the traditions here. Talent manager Rachna Puri said that foreign artists who come to India with the sole intention of earning money have to face losses. He said, 'Only those who have an affinity for Indian art and culture can succeed here. Only they get fame.' 'Foreign artists should learn the customs before working in India. Once they understand the traditions here, they do not face any problem in getting work. Also, after coming to India, they should find a support system. People will not delay in taking advantage if support is not available. Foreign artists must be full of talent, otherwise their work will be looked down upon here, leading to further losses. Second, they must have a work visa. If they work illegally, they will be exploited at every turn.

Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).