Deepika Padukone’s acceptance will open floodgates for other actresses to demand what they deserve

Amidst all the drama surrounding the release of Padmaavat and the myriad controversies that have made headlines, one very important commentary from the lead actress of the film has gone unnoticed. On the popular chat show, Vogue BFFs, Neha Dhupia asked Deepika Padukone if she was paid more than Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor for Padmaavat and the answer was a resounding, ‘Yes.’ The actress also added, “Talking about my remuneration for me is not exciting. I am confident and comfortable in what I get paid. But something that I am extremely proud is the fact that they have invested so much money on a film like this and a poster like this, featuring me on it. That makes me proud and that for me is hugely encouraging. It’s the turning point for Indian Cinema, I haven’t seen this happen before. I think this is the beginning of great things and a lot of amazing and great things to happen to women in films.” We are totally with Deepika on this becoming a turning point. Considering how Hollywood is currently bringing the so far shunned pay-disparity debate out in the open, for Deepika to call it out and admit to getting paid more than her male counterparts is a BIG deal!

Mind you, pay disparity isn’t something new in Bollywood. Actresses have whined and complained about being paid less than their co-stars, within closed quarters. But the conversation is coming out in the open on account of two reasons – social media providing everyone with the access to debate this issue and women-centric films (Queen, Piku, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Neerja, Tumhari Sulu) making money at the ticket window and winning critical acclaim. In Hollywood things are, in fact, worse. The fact that Ellen Pompeo had to wait for Patrick Dempsey’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy to negotiate a higher salary is proof that despite being the central character, she had to wait her turn for a more rewarding paycheck. In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Ellen said, “For me, Patrick [Dempsey] leaving the show [in 2015] was a defining moment, deal-wise. They could always use him as leverage against me — “We don’t need you; we have Patrick” — which they did for years. I don’t know if they also did that to him, because he and I never discussed our deals. There were many times where I reached out about joining together to negotiate, but he was never interested in that. At one point, I asked for $5,000 more than him just on principle, because the show is Grey’s Anatomy and I’m Meredith Grey. They wouldn’t give it to me.” Now she draws an enviable salary from the studio with added benefits.

Things are pretty similar in Bollywood. Actresses are paid far lesser salaries than their male counterparts but Deepika’s Padmaavat paycheck could just bring about a much required change. The hope is that Deepika’s quote on being paid more than Shahid and Ranveer is seen in the right context and doesn’t go the wrong way, becoming fodder for actresses to bicker or pull each other down. A few years ago, Kangana Ranaut admitted that she got paid Rs 11 crore for a film and wasn’t denying the fact that she was the highest-paid actress that year.

However, there is also another interesting take about the debate on pay parity which comes from Salman Khan. Anupam Kher had once said that Madhuri Dixit got paid more than Salman in Hum Aapke Hai Koun! Reacting to this, the actor said in a media interaction, “See, it’s all about what people want to see. The busier you get, the more the people want to see you, that’s how your price increases. So, if you can pull off a film on your own and the producer/distributors make that money, then they have no problem sharing that money with you. You can’t demand, you need to command that.” It means it all boils down to how much your film earns at the box office which ideally should be the yardstick to decide an actress or actor’s remuneration and not their gender.

2018 seems to be the year for women empowerment across the globe with the #MeToo movement getting huge support and pay disparity becoming a topic of discussion. Deepika’s commentary will hopefully give other women the confidence to demand for better paychecks and work recognition where it is due.

Source : bollywoodlife.com