Sudhir Mishra backs Deepika Padukone on pay parity; says she should be paid equal to male stars

Sudhir Mishra

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has come out in support of Deepika Padukone, advocating for equal pay for female actors in the industry. His comments come amid ongoing discussions about Deepika’s demands for fair compensation and better working conditions, which reportedly led her to exit Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel.

Speaking to Cyrus Braocha on his podcast Cyrus Says, Sudhir reflected on Kareena Kapoor’s remuneration in his film Chameli and explained the broader issue of pay parity in cinema. “She must have been paid more than Rahul Bose in the film, and she should have. Parity means if the woman’s part is as good as the man’s, then she should get paid as much. If it’s better, she should get paid more,” he said. He added that actor salaries often depend on box office draw, with some stars today being paid more than the revenue they bring in.

Turning to Deepika, Sudhir stated, “If Deepika Padukone brings in the audience and is as big a star as any male actor, which I think she is, quite a big star, she should be paid that much. Just leave aside this gentleman called Shah Rukh Khan, who seems to never age. In all the Bhansali films she did, she’s the main character. So I don’t see the problem. I think she should be paid equally, and it’s about time.”

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Deepika’s push for equality has recently sparked conversations about work-life balance and remuneration in Bollywood. Reports suggest she requested an eight-hour shooting schedule and a share in profits for Spirit, but when her conditions were not accommodated, she exited the project. Triptii Dimri subsequently replaced her opposite Prabhas. In September, it was also announced that Deepika would not be part of the Kalki 2898 AD sequel.

The actress will next be seen starring alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King, directed by Siddharth Anand, and opposite Allu Arjun in the sci-fi action entertainer AA22 x A6, directed by Atlee. Both films are currently in production.