Mumbai [India], October 15: Marathi television director and producer Mandar Devasthali has broken his silence over allegations that artists who worked on his television projects were not paid their outstanding remuneration. In his first public response to the controversy, Devasthali said the situation was not intentional and attributed the financial difficulties to a business decision that did not work out as expected.
The controversy gained attention after actor Shashank Ketkar raised concerns on social media about unpaid remuneration allegedly owed to him by a producer. Other artists, including actress Mrunal Dusanis, also reportedly raised concerns about pending payments, bringing the issue of delayed remuneration in the Marathi television industry into the spotlight.
Speaking in an interview with Ultrabuzz, Devasthali acknowledged that payments had remained outstanding but said he had not deliberately created the situation. He explained that he had been without work at the time and that a business calculation had gone wrong, resulting in a significant financial setback.
Addressing allegations that he had withheld artists’ payments while building properties or acquiring a farmhouse, Devasthali denied that this was the case. He said the financial situation had affected him substantially and suggested that decisions made during that period may have contributed to the problem.
Devasthali also acknowledged that the affected artists had reasons to feel aggrieved. He indicated that he understood their position and did not intend to dismiss their concerns. His response sought to explain the circumstances behind the pending payments while recognising that the artists were entitled to raise questions about their remuneration.
The director said he was now preparing to resume work through a new television project, Marathi Medium. He expressed hope that returning to work would allow him to rebuild professionally and address the outstanding issues over time.
Devasthali added that he wanted the matter to be resolved through mutual understanding rather than prolonging the public dispute. He said the past events remained on his mind and that his focus was on moving forward and finding a constructive way to settle the matter.
The controversy has renewed discussion about payment practices in the Marathi television industry, where actors and other creative professionals depend on timely remuneration for their work. Delayed payments can create financial uncertainty for artists, particularly when outstanding amounts remain unresolved for extended periods.
While Devasthali has now offered his explanation, the status and settlement timeline of the reported outstanding payments remain important questions. The matter will depend on the steps taken by the parties involved and whether a mutually acceptable resolution can be reached.
