The actor spoke up on the issue of gender pay parity in Bollywood while promoting his upcoming release 'Secret Suprstar' with 'Dangal' star Zaira Wasim...
The issue of gender disparity and pay in Bollywood is not new. Time and again it has been addressed and has been debated upon too. While a major chunk of the masses feel that it's unfair that the star or male actors get paid much more than their female counterparts in a film, Aamir Khan's statement about the same makes a lot of sense.
During an interaction with the media-persons during promotional interviews of his upcoming release with Dangal star Zaira Wasim titled Secret Superstar, Aamir was questioned whether Zaira is getting paid more than him since she is the protagonist and has a meatier role than him (For those who're caught unaware, Aamir has a supporting role in the film).
Aamir Khan explained, "The industry doesn't differentiate between genders. There are a lot of women directors like Reema Kagti, my wife Kiran (Rao) and so many. I don't think they are paid differently or treated differently.
I probably don't have smaller pay cheque than Zaira Wasim. There are two levels of pay cheques. There are just two or three people in the team who can pull people in the theatres. That's what we describe as stardom. That's what Salim Javed did as writers and AR Rahamn as musician. But if u have the ability to pull the crowd in theatres then you can get paid more than me. And trust me when Zaira does that, she will get paid more than me.
Anyone who has that ability, who will be able to fill in more seats, will get paid more. It does not matter you are male or female or even an animal. If you benefit me as a producer I am ready to pay."
He further added that he hasn't charged a fee for his films in the recent past and that he is the last person who gets his share of remuneration. "I don't charge a fee. I haven't charged a fee for the last 10 films. Fortunately all my films have been a hit, if not then I am the one who is hit. I am the last one to be paid after the producer, investors and if there is profit then I get share of it," he expatiated.
Furthermore, Aamir admitted that the actors are getting paid more because of the patriarchal set up of the society. He said, "Why male stars get paid more is because of the patriarchal society. Because as kids, we were used to listening to strories which have seen boys as heroes and saviours. So that has been planted in our heads that boys are heroes and not girls. To change that, it requires a paradigm shift in the minds of people."
Well said Mr perfectionist!
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 "Bollywood, Aamir Khan, gender pay parity, gender disparity, Zaira Wasim, Secret Superstar, Dangal, Kiran Rao, Reema Kagti, Web E")
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