Exclusive – Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka fame Worship Khanna shares, ‘With 90-day payment policy, when shoot resumes we will still be financially struggling till November’

TV actor Worship Khanna, who was last seen in Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka, shared the perils of an actor and himself during the lockdown. With TV shoot halted since March, TV celebrities across have been facing financial issues and the debate on 90-day payment rule has taken the industry by storm.
Worship Khanna, who left for his hometown soon after wrapping up his shoot, was told that there would be no shooting till March 31.In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, that actor spoke about the struggles he has been going through and also what future holds for him and other actors like him.
“I came back to my hometown on March 20 to spend time with my family. Then lockdown was announced and it started extending. I came home thinking of it as a holiday. But then everything went topsy-turvy. In the starting it felt quite good thinking I am getting to spend time with family as it is a rarity for an actor,” shared Worship.

Worship further revealed how his holiday turned into a nightmare with no source of income. He said, “I could sense that I am not liking it anymore. Slowly my savings were ending and there was no source of income. I have a 2BHK flat in Mumbai and I have to pay rent for that place and I am also spending money at my hometown. I am not working and I don’t know till how long I can survive on my savings. The state has eased down lockdown rules and many places are resuming services as well. Even if their part of income is deducted, they are still earning. But what about actors? Where will we go?”
The actor shares how future holds for them once shoot resumes and also how the 90-day payment will pose a bigger threat. “I will have to risk my life and go for auditions. So many shows were pulled off during the lockdown and so many are out of work. I will have to look for work again. Even if I find work once shoot resumes in July, I will get paid in November as per 90-day policy. Basically, I will have no earning in 2020. How do we survive in this situation? It is very tough. I am seeing around so many actors are dealing with depression, committing suicide… who will think about us?”

“Even if one has work, how will one survive the next four months? I am trying to be positive as much as possible. I am still giving auditions online and production houses are already telling me to reduce my current budget to 30% due to lockdown. I am being asked to work in less budget. I may even decide to work for free if work doesn’t come my way at all,” laments Worship.
“I am a single-parent child and taking care of two houses. I have responsibility of my mom. During my lockdown, my grandmother expired and I was shooting for an audition that time. I have seen a lot during the lockdown. Even with no income, I am applying make-up, getting ready everyday to shoot for auditions. Can you imagine the stress level? I am doing my best to stay positive and motivated this time hoping that something might work out,” said Worship.
The actor is seen in the role of Khanna, a family friend in Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka, which stars Vikram Singh Chauhan and Aditi Sharma in the lead roles. Wourship has also been a part of shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Ishq Subhan Allah, Kunwara Hai Par Hamara Hai, CID and a few others.