Bhumi Pednekar faced Pay Disparity in Bollywood, says ‘I was paid 5% of what my co-star got’

After working as an assistant casting director at Yash Raj Films for six years, Bhumi Pednekar made her film debut as an overweight bride in the romantic comedy titled Dum Laga Ke Haisha, which earned her the Award for Best Female Debut.

Bhumi has delivered some of the finest performances in films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Sonchiriya, to name a few. Recently, she appeared alongside Taapsee Pannu in Saand Ki Aankh, a film based on the lives of sharpshooters Chandro and Prakashi Tomar. She was lauded for her performance and also delivered another subsequent success with Bala co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam. 

The actress has had the prerogative of playings such distinct characters on screen and has often outdone herself as an actor with each passing film. While Bhumi has undeniably made her place in the list of bankable actors, her journey was not a smooth one.

In a recent chat with Pinkvilla, Bhumi talks about the obstacles she faced throughout her journey in Bollywood. She narrates her bullying experience and comments on the pay disparity that exists in the film industry. 

Speaking of bullying, Bhumi says that she has been bullied since she was a kid for different reasons and reveals that she was ridiculed for putting on weight for her debut film. "Everyone has faced bullying. I have been fatshamed since I was a kid. I was always a chubby kid. Everything is a problem. If you're too short, it's a problem. If you're too tall, it's a problem. Hairy, not hairy, fair, dark, - everything is an issue,” states the actress.

Further, Bhumi also reveals that she has been a victim of pay disparity, that exists in the film industry. She says, "In the early years, it used to be a huge problem. I'm not going to compare my pay to somebody who has been in the industry for so many years. I can't be someone who's not able to attract a large audience but expects a crazy pay. There has to be a logic behind it. I have been in a situation where I was paid 5% of what my male actor got, even though we had the same number of hits and our career graphs have been similar."

However, she adds that times are changing and states, “There's this wave of films that's led by female characters and it's empowering to be a part of these."

On the work front, Bhumi will next share screen space with Ananya Panday and Kartik Aaryan in  Pati Patni Aur Woh, slated to hit theatres on December 6.