Patriarchal mindset behind unequal pay for female actors: Aamir Khan

Amir Khan with his wife kiran Rao during the press meet in Ludhiana. (Source: Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

To this Aamir’s wife, Kiran Rao who is the producer of his film ‘Dangal’, added: “You simply cannot measure someone’s work and creativity on basis of male or female. Aamir and I have always believed in ‘equal pay for equal work’ when it comes to our production house and there is no point discriminating between the two.”

Aamir Khan further said that his own film ‘Dangal’ – the shooting for which is going to begin Ludhiana from September 22 – gives out the message of importance of daughters and gender equality.

Amir Khan with his wife kiran Rao and director Nitesh Tiwari during press meet in Ludhiana. (Source: Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

“The wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat made his daughters wrestlers. We are always stuck into mentality of giving preferences to sons. The film is about giving equal opportunities to daughters,” said Aamir. Film director Nitesh Tiwari was also present during the interaction.

“However it is not that all producers differentiate between male and female actors. They more pay to whosoever pulls larger crowds in theaters,” said Aamir.

On the students protesting at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune, Aamir said, “It is very unfortunate that students are protesting for their rights at an institute like FTII. The authorities need to listen their grievances thoroughly and understand what they are trying to say.”

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Aamir and Kiran said that there is need for a body which recognizes excellence in Bollywood. “I do not attend award shows but real talent is still not being recognised. It would be great to have a body recognizing true talent in Bollywood,” said Aamir.

On Aamir’s weight gain, the actor said he currently weighs 95 kilos, which is an increase of 25 kgs. “The film is in two phases- the second phase when I portray character of 50 plus will be shot first. I will be taking a break of five months to lose extra kilos and then first phase of young Phogat would be shot.”

“It is tough to gain and then lose 25 kgs for the same film but I hope I will be successful,” said Aamir.

Also read: Aamir ‘Perfectionist’ Khan’s beefed up look for ‘Dangal’ is posing health issues for him

Aamir Khan said that it is wrongly said that ‘wrestlers are only physically wrong and mentally weak.’ “When I have done wrestling myself now, I have realized that it is all a mind game. A pehelwaan is as sharp mentally as physically,” he said.

He said that there is nothing like ‘perfectionist’ that exists. “My success mantra is doing only what I like, the script that makes me cry and laugh at same time. Dangal is one of them. I am enjoying working with Nitesh,” he said.

“I have come to Punjab again after 10 years to shoot because I love the people and food of Punjab. They are too warm,” he said.

Kiran Rao said that there is rarely a time ‘when Aamir is just Aamir at home.’ “Everytime he is into one of his characters so there is rarely a time when he is just Aamir,” she said.