The issue of pay disparity between male and female actors in the film industry has been a long-standing topic of conversation. Despite the undeniable talent and hard work of actresses, there continues to be a noticeable gap in their earnings compared to their male counterparts. This gender-based inequality has prompted calls for reform from many within the industry. In a recently resurfaced video from an old interview, Aamir Khan opens up about his perspective on why this pay disparity persists, shedding light on the underlying factors that contribute to the ongoing issue.
During the promotions of the 2012 film Taalash, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukherjee were asked in an interview why male Bollywood actors are paid more than actresses. Kareena and Rani agreed to the question and expressed their despair about the unequal pay system. Kareena also added that the society needs to change the way they think in terms of paying women employees.
Meanwhile Aamir had a different opinion on this. Aamir Khan highlighted that while actresses, along with other crew members like cameramen and lightmen, put in a great deal of effort on film sets, the pay doesn't reflect the level of hard work involved. He pointed out that, ideally, everyone should be compensated equally based on the effort they contribute. He said, "See, in films, the fact of the matter is that your fee is connected to your ability to fill the theater. Now, yes, heroines work very hard, but so do cameramen. So do the light boys on set. All of us should be paid equally. Everyone works hard."
"The reason why you are paid differently in cinema is because the market forces understand that you are able to bring back that much money back into a film. So, if I am paid 10 rupees, that means I can bring back the money. So, it got nothing to do with your sex as a female or male," he continued.
When the interviewer inquired if Aamir Khan was equating a heroine with a light boy, he clarified that he was actually comparing the heroine, the light boy, and himself. He further said, "If Rani can fill in more seats than I can, 101 percent she will be paid more than me."
He also emphasized that the pay disparity isn't about gender, but rather depends on an actor's ability to attract audiences to the theaters.
Aamir Khan's last appearance was in Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), which didn't perform well at the box office. He is set to return to the screen in Sitare Zameen Par.
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