Actor and former White House staffer Kal Penn recently recounted a challenging experience where he faced significant payment delays while working on an Indian film, eventually having to stop showing up to set to get paid.
Starting Production Without Payment
During a candid conversation at Express Adda, Kal Penn revealed he began filming an Indian movie years ago without his salary being secured in an escrow account, a standard practice in the U.S. and partially in India. Despite advice from his agents, he flew to India in good faith, hoping the payment would come through.
However, as rehearsals and shooting commenced, the money still hadn’t arrived. Penn continued working, but the delay became a growing concern.
Advice From Bollywood Peers
As weeks passed, some of his Bollywood co-stars noticed the situation and offered a blunt warning. They told him, “Hey, you know you’re not ever going to get paid, right?”
Penn initially resisted their advice, explaining that as a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) actor, his union rules prevented him from simply not showing up. He was determined to fulfill his commitments.
Taking a Stand
With only three days left of shooting and still no payment, Kal Penn finally heeded the advice. He informed everyone on set that he wouldn’t be returning until he received his due. The crew, understanding his predicament, reportedly supported his decision.
Soon after, a financier called, asking if there was “koi problem hai?” (Is there a problem?). Penn clearly stated he hadn’t been paid and therefore couldn’t come to work. This led to a tense exchange, but eventually, the financier promised the money would arrive within two hours.
The Unusual Delivery
True to the promise, exactly two hours later, there was a knock at his hotel room door. Penn opened it to find a short, older man in a quirky shirt holding a brown paper bag. The man simply handed him the bag and instructed him to “Count it.”
To Penn’s surprise, the bag contained cash, but only half of what was owed. When he called to inquire, he was told the remaining half would arrive the next day. He secured the money, unsure what to expect, but to his relief, the next day’s payment also arrived as promised.
Reflecting on the Experience
After being four hours late to work that day, the crew expressed their support for his actions. The situation was resolved, but it meant Penn had to return to the U.S. with a large sum of cash, requiring him to declare it and fill out extensive forms—a process uncommon for him when working in the States.
- Kal Penn started filming an Indian movie without his salary secured in an escrow account, against his agent’s advice.
- Bollywood co-stars advised him to stop showing up to set to prompt payment.
- He eventually took a stand by refusing to work until he was paid.
- His payment arrived in an unusual two-part cash delivery at his hotel.
This unique anecdote from Kal Penn highlights some of the stark differences in industry practices he encountered during his diverse career, shared during his appearance at The Indian Express Group’s Express Adda platform.
