Actress Udayabhanu, currently starring in the upcoming film Tribanadhari Barbarik, has shared her experiences regarding delayed and bounced payments during her anchoring career. The film, directed by Mohan Shrivatsa and featuring Sathyaraj in a pivotal role, is set for release on August 22. Udayabhanu plays an aggressive character named Kanmani, while the story, based on Barbarik from the Mahabharata, has been adapted to a modern drug mafia backdrop. The recently released trailer has garnered significant attention from audiences.
During a promotional interview, Udayabhanu revealed that several cheques issued to her as an anchor had bounced, and she often faced difficulties in receiving her rightful remuneration. She also alleged the presence of syndicates in the anchoring industry that blocked opportunities and redirected assignments at the last minute despite her high profile. She stressed that her comments are meant to raise awareness for future anchors and mentioned that she is writing a book to chronicle the injustices and challenges she faced in the industry.
Sathyaraj, discussing his own experience, stated that actor remuneration depends on the story and budget of the film. Reflecting on his 47-year career, he noted that he acted in 75 films as a villain and over 100 as a hero, often foregoing fees or taking loans to release films. He added that directing is far more challenging than acting, requiring attention to multiple aspects simultaneously.