Panchayat Actor Salaries Revealed? Faisal Malik Explains How OTT Payments Work
Faisal Malik shares insights into how actors are paid in web series like Panchayat, following reports of Jitendra Kumar and others earning modest salaries. Here's what he said on The Raunac Podcast.
Actor salaries in web series continue to spark conversations online, and Panchayat is the latest to be caught in the storm. Following the successful release of its third season on Prime Video, multiple reports began circulating about the per-episode remuneration of the show’s cast , drawing comparisons with other OTT giants like 'Mirzapur' and 'The Family Man'.
Reported Salaries Raise Eyebrows Online
A report by Business Standard claimed Jitendra Kumar is the highest-paid actor in Panchayat, allegedly earning ₹70,000 per episode. Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav were said to be paid ₹50,000 and ₹40,000 respectively. The numbers for actors Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy were speculated to be ₹20,000 per episode.
Fans were quick to react on platforms like Reddit, questioning if such pay scales were too modest for seasoned actors. One user remarked, “Isn’t it too less for the talents of Jitu, Neena ji and Raghubir ji, especially when compared to the overpaid flop actors?” Another added, “Is this for real? Jitendra Kumar was paid only 70K per episode and he is the highest paid?”
Some users speculated the figures were outdated, stating, “That’s for season one,” while others estimated that by Season 3, Jitendra Kumar might be earning around ₹10 lakh per episode.
Faisal Malik Shares Payment Insights
Actor Faisal Malik, who plays Prahlad Cha in the show, addressed the topic during his appearance on The Raunac Podcast. While he didn’t disclose his earnings, he clarified how actor compensation is structured.
“The discussion about money starts after you agree to do the project,” he said, adding, “Sab acha tha (All was well).”
Malik elaborated that production houses often pay actors in five segments — from signing to release — based on a per-day calculation model. “This takes over a year. Until your show is not released, you don’t receive your final payment,” he explained.
He also revealed that pay raises are contractual, not performance-based: “They increase your fees only if you have made them write it in your contract... Sab acha hai.”
Industry Comparisons Add to the Buzz
In contrast, Ali Fazal reportedly earned ₹12 lakh per episode of 'Mirzapur', while Manoj Bajpayee allegedly received ₹10 crore for The Family Man Season 2. This disparity has amplified public interest in how salaries vary across OTT platforms and content types.
Jitendra Kumar had earlier addressed the issue in an interview with India Today, stating, “Well, I think discussing somebody’s salary and financial matters is really unfair... they should not be a thing.”
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