Syal waives fee to help movie

Meera Syal has waived her £100,000 fee for the movie Anita And Me to ensure it got made.

The film of her novel was £3.2 million adrift, so the Goodness Gracious Me star stepped in to help bridge the gap.

She told the Daily Express: "I've waived my fee as we didn't have enough money to make the film

"I still hope to get it back. Once the costs and investments are covered, then possible I could recoup it.

"What I did is not uncommon but that is why you do pantyliner adverts to make up for it.

"If it is the difference of the film being made or not being made then you have to do it, especially when you are artistically involved."

Released on October 25, the movie is a semi-autobiographical piece about a girl growing up in the only Asian family in a Midlands mining town in the 1970s.

It also stars Sanjeev Bhaskar, Lynne Redgrave and Kathy Burke.

Published: 15 Oct 2002