Where’s the ask B- town heroines

Popular actresses such as Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif still command only a tenth of what their male counterparts earn

This is Bollywood’s year of the woman. Some of the biggest hits in India’s prolific movie industry this year have female leads in female- oriented stories. In this summer’s surprise hit, Queen, Kangana Ranaut is the spunky heroine who embarks on her honeymoon alone after she is jilted the day before her big fat Indian wedding. In Mary Kom, Priyanka Chopra plays a female Olympic bronze medal- winning boxer. Previously, women were relegated to playing the male lead’s girlfriend, sister or mother in subservient roles, reflecting the traditional dominance of men in Indian society.

But for all their box office success and newfound prominence, Bollywood actresses are asking: Where is the money? Top male stars, such as the three Khans — Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir — and action star Akshay Kumar, earn around Rs400 million ( Dh24.6 million, $ 6.7 million) per film on average, apart from a share of the profits, according to industry experts.

A- list actresses such as Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif get paid a tenth of that per film. When Padukone recently signed a movie deal for Rs70 million, it generated a buzz since it was one of the highest amounts paid to a female lead.

WIDENING GAP

Actresses are beginning to speak out about that enormous disparity.

“I don’t really understand why we are paid less than the male actors because we put in equal effort and the recent past has shown that actresses can deliver a hit film. We deserve better pay, equal to what actors get,” up- and- coming star Aditi Rao Hydari told PTI.

The momentum started last year, when women featured prominently in several successful movies. That forced directors and producers to rethink roles for actresses. Given the success of this