11 am:
Throughout the day, the same scene is shot at least thrice, each time from a different angle. Kamya has only time to gobble an idli-sambar breakfast before the cameras start rolling. Between the shots, I wake up the auctioneer, character artist Sukh Randhawa, dozing through the melee of changing trolley and camera locations. “After finishing a shoot of Sujata (Sony) at 3am last night, I am here reporting for a 7 am shoot,” he says. Randhawa, a national level boxer from Punjab, is a chip above the other extras. Though he is hired for a day, he has a line to say. While others get Rs 750 per shift, he manages Rs 2,000.
Permanent character roles can fetch up to Rs 5,000 per episode, though payments appen only after 60 days of a shoot. Lead actors usually get Rs 20,000-25,000 onwards per episode. Newcomers could even start at Rs 10,000 or less. Corporatisation has brought in a contract system where lead actors are often signed by a channel on a yearly basis, amounting to a multi-lakh fixed annual income. “I can’t reveal how much I am paid, but it has definitely increased ten times since I entered TV five years ago,” admits Kamya. Most production assistants, technicians and even directors ideally start working without pay and pretty early, often in their teens, like the 26-year-old Das, who’s been in the industry for 10 years now.

2pm:
It’s time for lunch as everybody queues in for the staple studio buffet of rice, dal, chapati, sabzi, papad and dahi. Kamya orders some chicken biriyani and ice cream instead. “Studio mein to thali ke alawa koi option hi nahi hota…” she says. As she waits, she rehearses lines for her ongoing reality show on Sony, Comedy Circus 2, where she has made to the finals. Her stand-up partner on the show, Rajiv Thakur, joins in and the duo start rehearsing, a hilarious spoof on Ekta Kapoor’s Kahani Hamaarey Mahabhaarat Ki. “Not all actors will stick out their neck for a spoof on Ekta, but I don’t care,” says Kamya.
Soon after, a spot boy comes in to call, hopefully, Kamya’s last shot for the day as she’s opted for an early 5 pm pack-up to attend Comedy Circus rehearsals. On other days, she works 12 hours at a stretch. Kamya has been married for four years to Bunty Negi (a special effects specialist) and wishes she could spend more time at home beyond the 1-2 hours she manages. “Pressure is also on to start a family. But you can’t just have a kid and let him be,” she muses.
Meanwhile, the camera has moved to right in front of her table for close-ups as she bids again. “Pan left to centre and shake, pan right to centre, zoom in and shake…” goes the director. But though it’s Sindoora’s close-up, there’s no respite for the tired extras. Das yells, “For one last time, sab camera ki ore dekh kar khusur-phusur karo.” One can hear a loud, “Not again.” It’s their 10th take. Another jokes, “Bhaade ke kapde pahankar karodon ki boli lagaye ja rahe hain…” “…Aur woh bhi ek pachas rupaiye ke plaster of paris statue ke liye,” another joins in grinning.

... contd.