Character actors are not paid well: Raghubir Yadav

New Delhi: Bollywood stars have always made news with their hefty remuneration but veteran actor Raghubir Yadav says not all are paid that great.

Raghubir, who has been in the industry for more than two decades and has worked in hits like ‘Peepli Live’ and ‘Lagaan’, said it is only the Khans and Kapoors that are paid well in this industry. "We are paid really less. The money we get is only enough to manage our day to day expenses. What will we get when everything is paid to the stars? And neither can we demand because what we want is a good role, so either we take the role or demand money... Asking for both doesn`t apply to us," Raghubir told reporters. The actor became a household name with comedy TV show ‘Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne’ and established himself as a character actor in films like ‘Bandit Queen’, ‘Dil Se’ and ‘Water’. Raghubir will soon be seen in debutante Gitanjali Sinha`s ‘Yeh Khula Aasmaan’, where he is portraying the role of a grandfather. He says that it was easy for him to play an old man as he has spent a lot of time with elderly people during his theatre days. "I have spent a lot of time with elderly people during my theatre days and I enjoy spending time with them... They have a lot of experience in life and the things they talk about and the advices they give reflect that. It`s all about learning from them and living life. In this film also we are trying to portray the fact that joint families are much better than nuclear and how it is important to have elders around you," he said. The film also stars Yashpal Sharma and newcomers Raj Tandon and Anya Anand. It will hit the theaters on May 25. Though Raghubir has been in the industry for long, he has no apprehensions of working with newcomers. "I have no apprehensions... If the story is good then everything else will be managed," he said. The actor also said that he is not too keen on working in many movies now and would love to direct. "Seeing the kind of films that are being made today I don`t want to work in many... I am happy with the way my career has shaped up and want to work at my own pace. I want to enjoy life and I am mostly involved in music now. "But I would love to direct someday... It has been my dream since long and when the time is right I will do it," Raghubir said. The actor, who has also sung in films before, said he doesn`t have any plans to turn it into a profession. "Music is a stress buster for me and I don`t intend to ruin it by becoming a professional. Today anybody can become a singer. With advanced technology, music has lost its purity. I sing because I like to not because it`s a mode of earning," Raghubir said. PTI