Mandakini says she was never paid for 16-17 films, recalls informal early days

Veteran actor Mandakini has spoken about her early years in the Hindi film industry, describing a close-knit working culture and disclosing that she was never paid for around 16 to 17 films over the course of her career.

In an interview, Mandakini said she thoroughly enjoyed her time on set, describing her colleagues as cooperative and the overall atmosphere as warm and homely. She contrasted that environment with the present day, noting that interactions within the film fraternity were far less formal in her era.

"Everyone used to eat together, and there was no such thing as asking someone before meeting an actor," she said, adding that people could walk into one another's rooms freely, which made the workplace feel like a family.

That informality extended to how films were signed and how payments were handled. Mandakini recalled that contracts were often simple, with actors sometimes asked to sign on the spot while payment terms were sorted out later. In some cases, she said, a payment would come through; in others, it would not.

She also said she occasionally agreed to work without a fee, particularly when filmmakers or colleagues sought her help for a short schedule. When asked whether she had acted for free, she recalled being requested to shoot for about 15 days and readily agreeing.

While she eventually received payment for most of her work, Mandakini said several films never translated into money for her. She attributed this to projects that were left incomplete or unreleased, as well as final instalments that were never cleared.

"There was a divide between the three films. So, one film was released, and the last two were not released. Or the last payment was not released," she said, explaining that such cases were not uncommon.

Mandakini, best known for her role in the 1985 film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, said the camaraderie of those years remains a fond memory even as the industry's professional practices have changed.