Bhumi Pednekar says ’it’s a norm’ that she will not be paid as much as male counterpart: ‘Yet they want us to feel thankful’

Huma Qureshi, who is basking in the success of Monica O My Darling and Maharani, added that she might be the highest paid actor in a few of her projects, but the budget is never the same as a project with a male lead. In the roundtable organised by Bollywood Hungama, the actor said, “But we should also understand that the males have created a market over years. We cannot pitch 10 female films with the 100s they have.”

While Tamannah Bhatia pressed upon the fact that someone like Alia Bhatt has proved that females can get numbers, Bhumi Pednekar said the change cannot come with them fighting for it. “I could have as many Rs 100 or 200 crore films as my male-costar. I may be appreciated for my work but it’s a norm that I will not be paid as close to what he is being paid. And it won’t change with us fighting. It has to happen from every aspect. The disparity was also in the west but the men there stood up for women. They said either they will take a pay cut or get them the same remuneration. And while I don’t want anyone to stand up for me, there has to be empathy. One needs to acknowledge the issue.”

The Rakshabandhan actor said that at the moment, they find solace in the fact that they are getting good work, but wonders why not the same money. She further shared how even after years, people want them to feel thankful for getting good roles. “If the budget is 125 crore, the males get a good two-digit figure but then they want me to be thankful. You have come to me because I add a certain amount of credibility but they always make it sound like an opportunity.”

Echoing her thoughts, Huma Qureshi said that even after working in films for over a decade, female actors are always lured citing ‘opportunities’. Rakul Preet added that it is because most of them are ‘replaceable’.

Quoting Priyanka Chopra, the Cuttputlli actor said that the offers are treated as opportunities because they know producers know they have options. “Sometimes offers also come at the last minute and you have to accommodate if you want to work. It’s all because they know there is another actor who can take this up.”