Kajol: 'When women-led movies make as much as Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan, there will be pay equality'

Seasoned Bollyoowd actor Kajol, who is known for her outspokenness, has once again sparked discussions with her recent comments on pay disparity in the film industry. Speaking at the Jagran Film Festival 2023, Kajol shared her thoughts on the pressing issue of gender-based wage gaps while also acknowledging the need for a change in audience perception.

Kajol, who is experiencing what many consider her second innings in the industry, expressed optimism about the potential shift towards equitable compensation for female actors. She emphasized the importance of women actors drawing salaries on par with their male counterparts, ultimately highlighting a connection between box office success and earnings.

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"Our audience is much more literate today, thanks to social media and OTT platforms. (Now) we watch every kind of film. We are thinking better and we can hope for better (films). And yes, when you start making a Wonder Woman in India and it does equally well as Pathaan, then there will be paid equality," she said. 

And Kajol's latest comments will likely divide the internet, just like her previous instances. She has been making headlines as some of her comments have controversies, including the one where she said, that the country was ruled by "uneducated political leaders. " The issue even snowballed into a political debate forcing Kaol to issue a statement clarifying her stance. "I was merely making a point about education and its importance. My intention was not to demean any political leaders, we have some great leaders who are guiding the country on the right path," she tweeted a clarification. 

Earlier, she also garnered flak when she playfully took a swipe at the success of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan. During the promotion of her maiden web series The Trial , whether she has any questions for Shah Rukh Khan. "How much did Pathaan really make?" unleashing a wave of crisis, for allegedly trying to undermine the success of Pathaan, which gave the much-needed break to the embattled Bollywood industry.