Kajol's roadmap for pay equality: Hinges on success of an Indian 'Wonder Woman' just like 'Pathaan'

Renowned Bollywood actress Kajol recently opened up about pay equality in the film industry and shared her thoughts on the changing landscape of Bollywood due to social media. During an event, when asked about when pay equality will be achieved in the industry, Kajol playfully quipped, "Ask an astrologer?" However, she went on to offer a thoughtful response, highlighting the progress made by Indian audiences in embracing diverse content through social media and streaming platforms.

According to Kajol, Indian audiences have become more "literate" when it comes to cinema, thanks to the advent of social media and the accessibility of global content through various OTT platforms. She believes that as India continues to progress and embraces diverse genres of cinema, the industry will move towards achieving pay equality. Drawing a comparison, she suggested that when an Indian film, akin to the global success of "Wonder Woman" starring Gal Gadot, performs equally well as a big-budget action film like "Pathaan," then we can expect to see pay equality becoming a reality.

The conversation then took a nostalgic turn as Kajol revealed an interesting anecdote about missing a chance to work with the acclaimed director Mani Ratnam. She shared that she received an offer from Mani Ratnam for a film, but due to her prior commitment to filmmaker Karan Johar for 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,' she couldn't take up the opportunity. While some people suggested she should have chosen Mani Ratnam's film, Kajol believes her commitment to Karan's project worked in her favor in the long run.

Reflecting on the changing times in the film industry, Kajol commented on how social media has impacted the way film stars are perceived by the audience. With the access provided by social media, the mystique surrounding film personalities has diminished, and they are now more relatable and accessible to their fans. While this has its advantages, Kajol also acknowledged that the enigmatic aura of film stars has somewhat diminished as a result.