Kriti Sanon Speaks Out on Pay Parity: Why Some Male Co-Stars Earn 10 Times More Than Her

Kriti revealed that producers often justify the pay gap by citing recovery from digital and satellite rights, which are secured before the film's release

Digital Desk: In a candid interview, rising Bollywood star Kriti Sanon discussed the significant pay disparity between male and female actors in the film industry. Following the success of her latest film "Crew," Kriti expressed her concern over the wage gap, questioning why some male co-stars earn 10 times more than her "for no reason" despite not delivering a hit in years.

Kriti revealed that producers often justify the pay gap by citing recovery from digital and satellite rights, which are secured before the film's release. Male-centric films tend to perform exceptionally well on these platforms, leading to higher compensation for male actors.

The actress also disclosed that producers were reluctant to invest the same budget in "Crew," an all-female comedy, as they would for a similar film with male leads. This issue hasn't changed since 2018, when "Veere Di Wedding," an all-women mainstream film, required the actresses to take pay cuts to keep the budget in check.

"Crew," co-produced by Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, earned over ₹75 crore at the domestic box office. The film focuses on three air hostesses on a struggling airline who seize opportunities to make money illegally through their otherwise exploitative jobs.

Kriti's comments shed light on the ongoing struggle for pay parity in Bollywood. While top actresses like Deepika Padukone charge around ₹10 crore per film, their male counterparts like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan command significantly higher salaries of ₹40–50 crore or more.

As Kriti continues to make her mark in the industry, her voice adds to the growing chorus demanding fair and equal compensation for female actors. Her success with "Crew" demonstrates the commercial viability of female-led films.