In a candid conversation actor Taapsee Pannu shed light on the often-overlooked pay disparities in Bollywood, particularly regarding female actors in high-profile films. Pannu, known for her compelling performances in movies like Pink , Thappad , and Shabaash Mithu , discussed her experiences in the industry, revealing that she often receives less compensation for working in major films headlined by male stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan. Taapsee emphasized that the industry dynamics frequently place male leads in positions of power over casting decisions.
“The hero has a significant say in who the heroine is going to be,” she stated, adding that this often leads to scenarios where male actors prefer to work with co-stars who will not outshine them. “Some heroes think, ‘Let me cast someone who will not overshadow me,’” she noted, highlighting an ongoing challenge in achieving gender equality in casting. MUST READ: Liam Payne’s Body Expected To Return To UK Within 48 Hours For Funeral Interestingly, Taapsee explained that her pay is often higher for films where she takes on the lead role.
She mentioned that contrary to popular belief, she does not earn much from participating in big-budget films; instead, it’s the projects where she leads that provide her with fair compensation. “People assume I do films like Judwaa 2 or Dunki for the money, but that’s not the case. I actually get paid more when I’m the headline act, like in Haseen Dillruba ,” .