KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Aman Graseka has asked the producer and director of the film 1875 to pay his alleged wage of RM25,000 still due to him from four years ago.
According to Harian Metro, the 53-year-old artiste who plays Datuk Maharaja in the film said that he needed the money since his wife Nurul Amrina Zamri, 32, would be delivering their second child next month.
Aman who is currently living at his wife's hometown in Padang Geh, Kuala Ketil in Kedah had not been able to generate income for the past two years due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
"My wife will be giving birth soon. The Covid-19 situation doesn't seem to be abating and there's no work. It's really giving me a headache. Where else can I look for money?" he said.
It is believed that the film in question that was shot four years ago had yet to be screened.
The actor, whose real name is Aman Shah Baharom Shah explained that the film was produced using the grant from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).
"In the beginning, we signed a contract with a company using a different name. However, a few weeks later, the director changed the company's name to something else. Eventually, he said that he would not pay us a single sen because we had signed with another company.
"Even while filming in a resort in Sungai Itik, Gopeng, Perak I had to use my own money for rental fees at the location," he said.
Aman added that his wife who had accompanied him at the time was also offered an acting role but was not paid either in the end.
"My wife was supposed to receive a payment of RM3,000. I contacted the producer frequently but the person only offered false promises. I was told that I would certainly be paid when there was money.
"Eventually, I lost my patience and questioned his promises. He then proceeded to block my calls and messages. I'm very disappointed with his behaviour and I don't want this to happen again to other actors," he said.
Aman added that he had sought out the help of friends but during these challenging times many were also experiencing financial troubles.
The actor, who is father to two-year-old Aishymir Mateen, had also requested for aid from Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman) but had yet to receive any response.