Kriti Sanon recently addressed the ongoing issue of the gender pay gap in Bollywood, emphasising how producers’ willingness to take risks and content-driven successes like Crew and Gangubai Kathiawadi are paving the way for change. On Thursday, she spoke candidly about the persistent disparity in pay within the Indian film industry, noting that despite ongoing discussions, the gap still stings.
Kriti Sanon Opens Up On Pay Gap In Bollywood
While speaking at CNN-News18’s SheShakti Delhi Edition, Kriti stated, “Actually, considering all the other industries, I don’t understand why the pay parity is there. For certain kinds of roles, certain kinds of jobs, whether you are a male or a female, it shouldn’t matter, and the pay should be the same. In the films, yes, we’ve been having this conversation for a very, very long time and trust me, it pinches us more than anyone else.”
She also highlighted the core issue: the vicious cycle linking star remuneration to audience appeal. “The huge gap in the payment for male and female actors. But I think it’s a circle because I feel that the fee of any actor sort of relates to how many audience you can pull into a theatre from your name on Day 1. Unfortunately, there are very few films that are, much fewer films I would say that are led by women than men.”
Kriti Reveals Female-Led Films Don’t Receive The Same Budget As Male-Led Movies
According to Kriti, even female-led films often don’t receive the same budget as those led by men. “Even if it’s a film led by a woman, I feel it’s not scaled at the same budget as a film that is led by a man would be. But that’s also because producers are scared that they are not going to get as much money back. So I think it’s a circle where female-led films don’t end up making as much money as the male-led films, and then it’s like ‘oh, that’s why his fees are more or her fees are less’.”
Kriti Sanon Says There Is A Gradual Change
Despite these challenges, Kriti sees signs of gradual change. “So I feel like it’s changing slowly. I like the fact that film work is no longer dependent on male or female; it depends on content. When a film led by three women, Crew, ended up working and entertaining the audience, it gave me hope. It felt like when it’s a female-led film, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a serious subject. You can also have fun, and you can also entertain people. You can also have these big locations and a substantial budget. I feel things will change only when some people, the producers obviously, have the heart to take the risk. Take risk on the subject, not who’s leading it.”
On her professional front, Kriti will next be seen in Aanand L. Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein opposite Dhanush. There are also reports that she may play a pivotal role in Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3, further establishing her as one of the most versatile actors of her generation.
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