Divya Dutta Talks About Pay Disparity In Bollywood: “We Live In A Male-Dominated Society, Where We Are Hero Driven.”
The gender pay gap has been a topic of debate and discussion for years now. Many have come forward talking about their own stories of being discriminated against due to their gender. Especially in the film industry, Hollywood and Bollywood alike. Actresses such as Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence have had incidents of being paid significantly less compared to a male co-star. There were also reports of Deepika Padukone demanding the same pay as husband Ranveer Singh and being both trolled and supported for it. And now, Sheer Qorma actress Divya Dutta has spoken about pay disparity in Bollywood.
View this post on Instagram
While things seem to be progressively changing for female actors, the basic belief remains the same. Divya Dutta says, “We live in a male-dominated society, where we are hero driven. But I think with the introduction of OTT Democratization has happened.”
Dutta who we can look forward to seeing in movies like Dhakkad and Sharmaji Ki Beti continues on as she says, “If anyone is doing this, it is a personal choice. I would do it with someone I have a great relationship with. It’s something you do only because of emotions, not because of pay disparity.”
Also Read: Short Film ‘Sheer Qorma’, Starring Swara Bhasker, Divya Dutta, Shabana Azmi Wins At Frameline, Qualifies For BAFTA
As someone who has been in this industry for almost three decades, Divya Dutta believes that we still have a “long way to go,” in terms of the pay disparity. According to Hindustan Times, Dutta also said, “This is because we have a massive audience of ours who are inspired by the heroes. It’s not that actresses don’t get anything, but it’s about demand and supply. There are top actresses who charge as much as the hero.”
However, Divya Dutta seems to believe that this is changing with the popularity of OTT platforms. She claims that regardless of whether the actor is a newcomer or an already established star there are opportunities and genres to get into. Dutta says, “Be it stars or newcomers, everyone gets equal opportunities, and you can put them in any genre you want.”
It genuinely is shameful that actresses who work just as much as their male co-stars are unable to get their due, be it in pay or appreciation. Women are required to work twice as hard as men to build a career and be taken seriously. And after all these years of discussion and debate, if this is still a topic of concern, Bollywood needs to make some changes.
Dia Mirza Talks About The Misogyny That Has Always Existed In Bollywood. We Love How Candid She Is
