Sai Writers' Nightmare: Unpaid Dues Haunt Show's Legacy

The acclaimed Sony TV series 'Mere Sai,' which concluded in 2023 after a six-year run, has left its creators in distress. Writers associated with the show have revealed significant unpaid dues totaling over Rs 15 lakhs, with individual claims reaching this amount. Producers Nitin Vaidya, Ninad Vaidya, and Aparna Padgaonkar, operating under Dashami Studioz, have reportedly defaulted on payments to various cast and crew members.

Writer Nitin Keswani stated his dues have been pending for nearly three years, with no payment received for the second season. He alleges false promises of clearing old dues were made to encourage him to write new episodes. Another writer, Koel Chaudhari, has faced similar issues since 2023, with the last five months' payments remaining entirely unpaid as of March 17, 2026. She expressed shock that producers launched another season despite these outstanding payments.

Farhan Salaruddin, a writer-producer, corroborated these claims, noting that only 40% of his payment for the show 'Shirdi Wale Sai Baba' has been cleared in scattered installments, with 60% still outstanding. He mentioned receiving the last payment on November 6 and no further payments in the four months since. Writers described a manipulative practice where producers threaten to hire new writers, trapping them in a cycle of continuous work without guaranteed payment.

The writers highlighted a lack of protection within the TV industry for their profession. They noted that trust built over long working relationships led them to initially grant producers more time, rather than immediately seeking external help. This situation underscores the precarious financial reality for many TV writers, who are often blamed if a show fails and face shrinking budgets and a lack of professional unity.