The gender pay gap is a prevalent issue across various industries. In 2019, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Wage Report revealed that women were earning approximately 20% less than men on average. Although there has been some gradual reduction in this gap, it remains a significant concern. A recent survey by Mercer indicated that gender pay parity in India as of February this year was at 1.8%. The survey found that the wage gap is narrower, at 1.4%, at the para-professional level, but widens to 2.5% at the executive level.
Similar to many other sectors, the film industry, including Bollywood, is not exempt from gender pay disparities. Recent debates have highlighted the unequal pay between male and female stars. An old video of Aamir Khan discussing gender pay gap and making a comparison between actresses and crew members has resurfaced on Reddit.
In the video, Aamir Khan suggests, “Your fee is connected to your ability to fill the theatre. Heroines work very hard but so do cameramen. So do the light men on the set. All of us should be paid equally. Everyone works hard.” However, this comparison misses the point of the debate, which is about equal pay for the same work regardless of gender.
The host of the show rightly questions Aamir’s comparison between actresses and crew members in the context of gender pay gap. Aamir clarifies his stance, stating, “I am comparing the heroine, and the lightboy and myself… All of us are working hard. I am working hard, so is the light boy. Why is he getting paid differently from me? It’s not because he is a man or a woman… The reason for differing pay in cinema is based on the market’s understanding of an individual’s ability to generate revenue for a film.”
Aamir goes on to emphasize that the gender of the star is not the determining factor in pay; rather, it is the star’s ability to attract audiences. However, it’s worth noting that modern audiences are increasingly focused on content quality rather than the gender of the star, with some exceptions. Aamir’s comparison of two distinct roles to address the gender pay gap is a point of contention and doesn’t fully address the issue at hand.
