Equal pay! say the unequals | ||
B-Town actresses hold forth on gender disparity in income. Cool or complacent, livid or hopeful " the reactions are all here! | ||
Upala KBR and Nayandeep Rakshit | ||
In most parts of the world, it's the same story. Women are not paid as well as their male counterparts " no matter what their field of work. With Patricia Arquette at the Oscars and Jennifer Lawrence, more recently (in an essay in buddy Lena Dunham's newsletter), raising the clarion call to end gender inequality in Hollywood, it became a burning topic, one that could not be shied away from or wished away. We asked Bollywood actresses to tell us what they feel about the situation in tinsel town (it's prevalent here, too!), if they expect change or are okay with it... Is it going to change? We wish! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Every arm involved in the making of a film deserves more than what they are getting. There's a huge difference in pay scale " and not just the actress, but everyone from the director to the DOP or sound recordist " all the HODs ought to speak up as everyone's contribution is immensely important. When you break it down, this discussion can find several platforms, but is it going to change? We wish. We hope. We work towards it. I used to do it within the system, we all know. The change can come about with each one's individual choices. There's no point just sitting and announcing your own demand. I think you have to make your choices and work accordingly and that would mean you would be willing to run the risk of walking away, of charting your own course, of working purely by your own strength and swim against the tide and that's a touch choice. I have done it before and everybody knows that, it takes a lot to survive and stand tall and if be willing to do that rather than just stand with a baton or placard. You can't just make demands, you make those choices, exercise them and let's hope to bring about that change. Don't see why an actress should get paid any less Alia Bhatt Pay scales can be graded on seniority " like an actor who is 10 years ahead of another actor or a new actor who has done four films and another who has done 10 films but if both have done the same number of films, it then depends on their brand value. If their brand value or what they are bringing to a project is the same, I don't see why an actress should get paid any less. I am sure there are ways to measure one's brand value " like references, research, work experience, etc. So that's something I could fight for or stand by another actress, but I also feel that it really depends on the level and the kind of value the actor is bringing to the project. There will be some difference in acting and if the actress is senior to the actor then the actress should get paid more. There could be a more balanced outlook Shraddha Kapoor I do a film for the film's sake. I earn my money from my brands. At this stage, I only want the best films. That's my mindset. But as far as I know, it's a male-dominated fraternity. For example, when a film does well, the heroes get the maximum benefit. But when it doesn't, they only get the maximum flak. It will be really nice if there could be a little more balanced outlook towards the difference in remuneration. I'm happy with what I get paid Kareena Kapoor Khan I don't think there's too much of a gap. Actresses are paid what they should be. At least, I am happy the way I get paid. And honestly, an actor or actress' pay depends on the budget of the film. That's why it's always nice to do a film with Salman, Aamir, Shah Rukh, Akshay, Ajay " because the budget is always high. (Laughs) It's very, very, unfair Vidya Balan Obviously, there's a huge difference and no one can deny it. In female centric films, because I've been a part of them for a while now, I think the economics are very different. So then it's very difficult to compare what you get versus what a male actor gets in a hero-centric film because the finances and budgets are also different. Having said that, I feel I command my fee and I have always got it. So I have no complaints. But I guess if I was in a film with a male star, then it would bother me if I am getting much lesser. But I'm not doing those films currently. And it's not just here. Even in Hollywood, there's a huge disparity in the remuneration given to actors and actresses. And that is very, very unfair. There is a huge disparity Parineeti Chopra It's the unfortunate truth that men are paid more than women. Of course, the bigger stars who have been here for 20-30 years deserve the salary they receive. I'm talking about male and female actors who are at the same level. Whether they are new or old " even at my sister's (Priyanka) level or my level, there's a huge disparity between what the boys get paid and what the girls are getting paid. It's just sad and I hope it changes soon. I hope it changes soon Kangana Ranaut This has been the issue for years now. Today, more and more women are doing better films and those films are also bringing in more money. So, I definitely feel this thing should change. I hope that happens soon. It's disgusting Konkona Sen Sharma I think it's disgusting that we don't have equal pay for equal work. It should be there, of course. That's one of the things that is definitely wrong with the industry. And I'm glad that people are talking about it now. I hope it changes soon. I only care about myself Bipasha Basu These things have been discussed forever! Think about your own life and just enjoy yourself. I don't care about anybody. I only care about myself. What does it all get you? You get what you deserve whether you are an actor, actress or technician and if you don't you better get a reality check. There's no point complaining about it. Make your own life and choose what you have to because you cannot live another person's life. Suddenly, if I want to be Salman Khan I can't be no? I have to be Bipasha Basu and be happy about it. It doesn't matter to me. http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=83828&boxid=37208&ed_date=2015-10-28&ed_code=820004&ed_page=1 |
Jodha Akbar
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