Pay disparity has been a long-standing issue in the entertainment industry since its inception. For years, many actresses hesitated to address it publicly. However, as discussions around gender equality gained momentum, the industry gradually began acknowledging the pay gap between actors and actresses.
The conversation gained significant traction when actress Priyanka Chopra openly admitted to being paid significantly less than her male co-stars. “I would get paid about 10% of my male co-actor’s salary. The pay gap is substantial—significantly large. And so many women still deal with that. I’m sure I will too if I work with a male co-actor in Bollywood now,” PC shared in a 2022 interview with BBC.
At the same time, actor Aamir Khan provided a different perspective on the issue, linking pay disparity to an actor’s market value rather than gender. While promoting the 2012 film ‘Talaash’ alongside Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Aamir explained the economics behind pay structures. Speaking as a producer, he noted that pay inequality arises from an actor’s ability to draw audiences to theaters and generate revenue through ticket sales. He clarified that, in his view, the disparity was not based on gender but on commercial viability.
Fast forward to the present, actress-turned-producer Samantha Ruth Prabhu has taken a firm stand on pay parity in her upcoming production, Bangaram. She has ensured that male and female actors receive equal compensation, setting a precedent in an industry often marked by wage disparities.
Filmmaker Nandini Reddy, during a panel discussion at the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES), highlighted Samantha’s commitment to equality. “Samantha is producing our first film, and she made it a point that male and female actors are paid the same. I was so proud of her,” she stated.
This initiative has garnered praise from industry figures, including Kannada actress Ramya and cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman, underscoring its significance in addressing deep-rooted wage inequalities in cinema.
While leading actresses like Samantha, Nayanthara, and Trisha Krishnan have secured higher pay scales over time, the broader industry continues to struggle with gender-based pay gaps. Samantha’s proactive stance not only promotes equality but also challenges long-established norms, encouraging other producers and filmmakers to adopt similar practices.
Samantha’s initiative once again brings the debate to the forefront—Is the pay gap fundamentally a gender issue, or is it a reflection of an actor’s commercial worth? Who stands to gain or lose if equal pay is fully implemented?
As the film industry grapples with these questions, we explore the potential impact of pay parity and how it could reshape the long-standing business structure of cinema.
“Nayanthara, Trisha Krishnan, and Samantha—all of them command a strong market today”—Lata Srinivasan
Film critic Lata Srinivasan addressed the issue of pay disparity and how it should be tackled with initiatives from producers. In a recent conversation with ETimes, Lata shared, “Firstly, I think we must congratulate Samantha on the fact that she’s ensured pay parity on her first production, which I don’t think any other Indian star has done so far. So that is commendable. Now, as far as the market forces go, actresses have been talking about pay parity for a very long time, whether it is Hindi cinema, Tamil cinema, or Telugu cinema. It’s always been in discussion, but nobody has taken that step. And she has taken the first step in her own home production.”
She further remarked on how market forces determine pay parity, saying, “I think the market forces, when we talk about that, Nayanthara, Trisha Krishnan, Samantha, all of them command a strong market today. They are all top stars in the South, and they have a market. While producers acknowledge that, they definitely don’t pay them on par with the hero. So that has been a bit of an issue. And I think actresses feel it has been unfair because they work just as hard as the hero, but they get paid, you know, probably one-fiftieth of what the hero gets paid. Kannada star Ramya has spoken about it, Madhuri Dixit has recently spoken about it, and Guneet Monga has spoken about it. So I think it’s very important to acknowledge that this issue exists in the Indian film industry.”
Lata also responded to a question about who stands to win or lose if equal pay is implemented. “It is definitely the actresses who are going to win, as it’s been a long struggle for them. Producers have not acknowledged the issue, nor have they done anything about it. That is why actresses who are top stars, like Nayanthara, for instance, or Ramya or even Samantha, have started producing their own films because they realize that producers are never going to bet the kind of money they want to see or give them the kind of salaries they want. So I think it’s a very good change for the industry. The actresses in the Indian film industry are definitely going to hope that more such changes come in. It’s going to be a win for them, and nobody stands to lose in this situation. Because at the end of the day, producers may increase the salary of actresses, but when they’ll get paid on par with an actor/the hero still remains a big question,” she concluded.
“We cannot take away from the talent and skills an artist holds” – Shilpa Shirodkar
At the same time, actress Shilpa Shirodkar shared that she believes stars should be paid based on their work and talent, irrespective of gender. When asked whether pay parity can realistically be achieved in an industry where male actors drive larger box office openings, or if it’s time to challenge that notion, Shilpa told ETimes, “I feel that every actor, be it a male or a female, puts their heart and soul into their work. Acknowledging their efforts and the hard work that goes behind it is quite important. Women are taking the lead now and bringing out such amazing films. So I feel that all actors need to get what they deserve.”
She also shared whether she or any of her peers had personally experienced such disparity in their careers despite delivering commercially successful films. “Not that I personally know of, but I know the disparity does exist. And I think, somewhere, it brings down their morale. Since you have mentioned commercial cinema, it operates on remuneration, and for them, it’s an acknowledgment and respect,” she stated.
She admitted that pay parity in recent times is more connected to market value rather than gender. “Nowadays, yes, it’s about the market value, their digital presence, and fanbase, but work is work, and art is still art. We cannot take away from the talent and skills an artist holds,” she concluded.
“Pay parity is not a gender issue or has anything to do with equality”—Kushboo Sundar
Actress-politician Kushboo Sundar, who is also a well-known producer in South India, shared her views on the issue with ETimes. “Pay parity is a dream that we shall continue to dream for years to come. Box office openings are always about the hero unless it’s a woman-centric film. And how many films of that kind are made? More so, how many are successful? I have been paid the highest when I did women-oriented films because no big male actor would play second fiddle,” she shared.
Kushboo clarified that pay parity is not a gender issue but a matter of market forces. “And yes, let’s be clear. Pay parity is not a gender issue or has anything to do with equality; it’s about market value. Me being a producer myself, I know what sells and what does not,” she confirmed.
“Instead of seeking pay parity, heroines can look for appropriate pay”—G. Dhananjeyan
Producer G. Dhananjeyan also joined the discussion with ETimes. He shared that the box office market heavily favors hero-centric films, as audiences primarily support them. While many male-led films have surpassed Rs. 1,000 crore, no heroine-centric film has crossed Rs. 200 crore. This imbalance makes pay parity challenging to implement, as market dynamics cannot change overnight.
“Many actresses in the past were seeking pay parity for the last 10 years, but it is not that easy to implement as audiences are looking for hero-centric movies and come to theaters for such films. We cannot list out a single heroine-centric film that has earned more than Rs. 200 crore at the box office, while many hero-centric films have done over Rs. 1,000 crore, not just Rs. 200 crore. So the market dynamics at the box office are skewed towards male leads, and that scenario cannot be changed overnight when no heroine-centric films have achieved such collections at the box office.”
He further emphasized that instead of demanding pay parity, heroines should seek fair compensation based on their past earnings and their films’ business potential, which would be more practical and acceptable to producers.
“However, the pay of the heroines over the years has moved up substantially on par with heroes in terms of the proportion (% of increase to both, and it will move up further when the business grows. So, instead of seeking pay parity, heroines can look for appropriate pay for their work compared to what they were earning earlier and based on the business potential of their films. That would be ideal and acceptable to all producers,” he told ETimes.
“Movies in India still open based on the male star’s name…” – Ramesh Bala
Industry tracker Ramesh Bala also shared his views on pay parity in showbiz. “See, movies in India still open based on the male star’s name. It’s a Shah Rukh Khan movie, a Salman Khan movie, an Ajith Kumar movie, a Thalapathy Vijay movie, and a Rajinikanth movie. So, in a male commercial movie, where is the equal thing for a woman? They hardly have a role, do they? The movie doesn’t get an opening based on the woman’s role. Unless it’s a woman-centric movie, then it’s different. But still, those movies have to make 500 crores. Which movies have done that? If you look at Pushpa 2, KGF, and Baahubali, all are male-dominated films.”
He further stated, “Producers won’t give equal pay just because someone is asking for it. They will first ask for proof. The day a woman-centric movie collects as much as a male-led film, that’s when this discussion will become relevant. Until then, it remains an academic discussion.”
When asked about the highest-paid actresses today, he responded, “I think in the South, it’s Nayanthara. She’s the highest-paid actress, probably charging Rs. 10 to 15 crore per movie. And in the North, I think… is Alia or Deepika still doing movies? If they are, then I think Alia is the highest-paid. Maybe she charges the same as Nayanthara. I don’t think they charge more. That’s my read,” he concluded.
The debate on pay parity in the Indian film industry underscores the complex interplay of market forces, box office dynamics, and evolving gender norms. While actresses have made strides in advocating for equal pay, commercial viability remains the decisive factor. True parity will emerge only when women-led films consistently generate revenues on par with male-centric blockbusters, shifting industry perceptions and financial structures in the long run.
