Ameesha Patel on Gender Pay Parity: Blind Sided Or What?

Bold Stance or just being blind sided? Ameesha Patel on Gender Pay Parity and Why Male Actors Deserve More? Exploring Gender Pay Parity in Bollywood's Glittering World from an actress' perspective.

Ridam Sharma July 5, 2023

377 2 minutes read

Ameesha Patel on Gender Pay Parity in Bollywood as She Acknowledges the Influence of Male Actors on Audiences

Gender pay disparity in the Bollywood film industry has been a subject of ongoing debate. While big actresses like Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Anushka Sharma have voiced concerns about unequal pay, Ameesha Patel holds a different perspective. As she prepares for her comeback in the film Gadar 2 alongside Sunny Deol, Ameesha believes that male actors deserve higher pay due to their significant contribution to a film’s success. Know the whole story behind Ameesha Patel on gender pay parity.

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In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ameesha Patel expressed her opinion that pay parity does not exist in Bollywood or even in Hollywood. She argues that the success of a film largely depends on the male actor, and therefore, he deserves a higher compensation. She does not perceive herself as a “hypocritical” or “female fighter” seeking equal pay.

According to Ameesha, a film predominantly relies on the shoulders of the male actor, which explains why she supports their higher compensation. She mentioned that she would not demand the same pay as renowned male actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Sunny Deol, or Akshay Kumar because the audience is drawn to their star power. While acknowledging the contribution of actresses in significant roles, Ameesha points out that female-oriented films often do not achieve the same box office success as solo hero films, making equal pay requests unrealistic.

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While Ameesha supports the idea of higher pay for male actors, she emphasises the importance of receiving equal comfort on set. She believes that both male and female actors should be provided with the same level of comfort, considering the challenging working conditions they face. For instance, she mentions shooting in snow-clad mountains while wearing chiffon sarees, while male actors can wear suitable winter gear. Ameesha asserts that equal comfort is essential to enable actresses to perform their best.

Ameesha Patel’s comeback film, Gadar 2, directed by Anil Sharma, is a sequel to the 2001 hit film Gadar, starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha. The film is scheduled for release on August 11, and fans are eagerly awaiting its arrival in theatres.