She has done it! Kangana Ranaut is not only ‘the highest paid actress’ in Bollywood today but also the first heroine to receive equal money as her male co-actors. Are winds of change hitting the film industry? By Karan Bhardwaj
Gender pay disparity has become one talking point universally. Be it Bollywood or Hollywood, female actors are putting forth their strong views. However, critics say that wage gap in the film industry exists because of a star’s value and not necessarily of gender. But equations are changing fast in Bollywood where heroine-led movies are also turning out to be blockbusters. What started with Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture has snowballed several blockbusters helmed by female actors. Kangana Ranaut, who’s now championing the issue at every platform, has actually declared watershed moment in Bollywood.
In her latest interview with India Today‘s Rahul Kanwal, she revealed she is demanding money equivalent to her male co-stars in her films. Commenting on wage gap, she declared she is being paid no less than her male co-actors in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon – Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor. “Keeping my other male counterparts in mind, I make sure that I get paid as much as them. There are three heroes in the film, Saif, Shahid & Kangana,” she commented.
On asked if other heroines too could make similar monetary demands, Kangana suggested her colleagues better seek meaty roles. “As women, we should start doing more significant roles and participate in more ways than playing a small part in a movie.” Having said that she said she adjusted her fee according to the role and time demanded by the movie.
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Talking of the Khan’s dominance in the film industry and their fat pay cheques, she said they are a “case study, like a phenomenon”. “I wouldn’t want to compare myself with the Khans,” she said.
Ranaut had earlier declined the offer to work with Salman Khan in Sultan. She said that big stars like the Khans didn’t give her work in need. “When I wanted work, none of them wanted to work with me. Now that I am my own hero, why should I work with other heroes? I would like to do films where I have equal parts to play,” she said.
Winds of change are hitting Bollywood. While Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are scripting history in Hollywood, actresses like Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan and Tabu are rewriting rules written for mainstream heroines. Vidya Balan set the ball rolling with The Dirty Picture followed by successes like Kahaani and Paa. The rope was then taken over by Kangana Ranaut, who has actually done the unthinkable. At one side, she chose not to share screen space with the biggest of stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, at the other, she minted 100 crore blockbusters like Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
She tore apart myth that heroines cannot carry blockbusters on their shoulders. As she continues to break stereotypes amid all slut shaming and character assassination, the lady holds her fort firmly and is dedicated to be the game changer. Way to go!
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(The claims that she is actually the highest paid actress in Bollywood have been made in this interview. We have no substantiate proof for that. There have been previous reports mentioning Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone of this glory) Watch the interview here!
