Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon has spoken candidly about the persistent pay gap between male and female actors in the Indian film industry, saying women still face significant challenges when it comes to remuneration and equality.
In a recent interview with Indian media, Kriti revealed that producers often attempt to reduce the fees of actresses first when a film’s budget is tight, while a larger share of the budget is allocated to male lead actors.
She said the mindset of male dominance still exists in the industry and that achieving equality requires continuous struggle.
According to her, discrimination is also visible on film sets, where women are sometimes treated differently compared to their male counterparts.
Kriti shared an early-career incident, saying she once felt disrespected when a male co-star was given a better car than hers during a project.
The actress said that in the early stages of her career she was unable to speak up on many issues, but over time she learned to assert herself.
Kriti also described her film Mimi as a turning point in her career, saying it changed public perception about her work. She added that the National Award she received for the film remains one of the most significant milestones of her journey.
She further disclosed that before “Mimi,” she faced several setbacks, including losing key roles at the last moment to star kids in the industry.