The conversation around pay disparity, and high fees by male actors in the film industry is being given due importance today. Even makers and actors acknowledge the gap and are talking about it. During a recent interview, The Archies director Zoya Akhtar told Karan Johar not to pay hefty fees to his male actors, and here’s what the latter said in his response.
In a director’s roundtable conference for The Hollywood Reporter India, many big names from across the industry sat down for a conversation with Anupama Chopra. During this interview, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara director Zoya Akhtar reminded Karan Johar that he needed to stop paying high fees to his male stars. Zoya told this when Karan Johar was addressing the point about how male actors should start thinking about the remuneration they demand in each film. Zoya Akhtar intervened and said that the actors would never know that and asked Rocky Aur Ranii Ki Prem Kahan director not to pay such heavy fees to his male actors.
Karan Johar also defended himself and gave the example of his recently produced film Kill, which did good box office numbers as well. Karan Johar revealed that he put his money into the film because it was a high concept and it could not be made in any other way except on a train. Karan also revealed that many actors asked him for 40 crore as their fees but the entire budget was only that much. This made Karan Johar decide that he wanted to cast a new face and so he did. Furthermore, Zoya Akhtar also highlighted how the technical crew does not get paid enough because the most percentage of the budget goes into paying the male actors.
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On the work front, Karan Johar is currently gearing up for his next big release Jigra starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina. The Vasan Bala directorial will also be co-produced by Alia’s Eternal Sunshine Productions.