Actor Ras known for his role in the Mother-in-Law Show on Citizen TV has disclosed the challenges faced by actors and actresses within the film industry in Kenya.
During an interview with Plug TV, Ras claimed that numerous highly talented artists abandon acting due to the requirements they are obligated to fulfill before being granted a role.
He claimed that there is a pervasive issue of sexual exploitation, specifically affecting female artists. According to Ras, certain directors demand that women partake in intimate acts as a prerequisite for being considered for a role, and those who refuse often face rejection. Additionally, Ras revealed that male actors face challenges related to bribery, as directors require payment before granting them a role. In some instances, for a man to secure a spot in a show, negotiations with the director may involve agreeing to share half of the salary earned from their performance.
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“I have not encountered that but there are people who go through it especially women. Most of them gave up acting both in theatre and film because of sexual exploitation. Some directors usually ask female artists to exchange their bodies with an acting role. For men directors usually ask for money. If you don't have the money the role is given to someone else who has it. In some occasions on TV shows a director forces and actor to give him half of the money that he will earn,” Ras said.
The acclaimed actor elaborated on the underwhelming compensation that many TV show artists receive. Despite the perception that fans may have of their wealth, Ras revealed that a significant number of them struggle financially and lack basic amenities like cars. He argued that actors should receive higher remuneration compared to news anchors, given the substantial workload they undertake. Ras appealed to the government to explore the establishment of rights to safeguard the interests of actors in the industry.
