India Today photo.
Mumbai: Fresh allegations of deep-rooted gender discrimination and pay inequality in the Indian film industry have resurfaced after actor Kriti Sanon openly criticised the male-dominated culture prevailing in cinema. Joining a growing list of leading actresses, including Anushka Sharma, Taapsee Pannu, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti has alleged that actresses continue to face systematic financial and professional discrimination despite years of debate over gender equality in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with GQ, Kriti revealed that when film budgets are reduced, producers often target actresses’ salaries first while continuing to allocate massive sums to male stars. According to her, the industry’s entrenched patriarchal mindset continues to shape decision-making both on and off film sets. She argued that even routine practices on sets reflect this imbalance, claiming that actresses are often pressured to be ready first because of an unspoken assumption that male actors should never be kept waiting.
Kriti also recalled incidents from the early phase of her career when a male co-star, despite not being a bigger star, was allegedly given superior facilities and a better car than her. She stressed that the issue went beyond luxury and exposed a larger problem of unequal respect and treatment within the industry.
The actor further stated that the lack of strong, meaningful scripts for women eventually pushed her toward film production, leading her to back projects like Do Patti.
Meanwhile, actor Saif Ali Khan offered a contrasting perspective while speaking on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast. Though he supported equal pay for actors with equal stature, Saif argued that the film industry ultimately functions according to market economics. He maintained that remuneration is largely determined by an actor’s ability to attract audiences to theatres and described the pay gap as a reflection of commercial value rather than outright gender bias.