Mumbai: Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has spoken out about the stark gender pay gap in the Indian film industry, emphasizing that wage disparity is a global issue affecting women across various professions.
Speaking at the ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 event, Bhumi highlighted how women, even in top executive positions, earn significantly less than their male counterparts. “The CEO of any major conglomerate, if she is a woman, will undoubtedly earn a lower salary. The pay gap is even more in the film industry,” she stated.
Sharing her personal experience, Bhumi revealed that she was once offered only 5 percent of what her male co-star earned for a film, despite both actors having the same number of hit movies and starting their careers around the same time. “We were leading the film together, yet he got 80 percent more. I did that film because I didn’t have a choice. I wanted to create an ecosystem where I can empower myself and others,” she said.
The gender pay gap in Bollywood has been a widely discussed issue, with other prominent actresses like Deepika Padukone and Taapsee Pannu also raising their voices against the disparity. Despite increasing conversations about pay equity, the industry continues to witness significant wage differences between male and female actors.
On the professional front, Bhumi’s latest film Mere Husband Ki Biwi was released on February 21 and has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Looking ahead, she is set to make her web series debut with Daldal, where she will play the role of Rita Ferreira, Mumbai’s newly appointed DCP. The show, based on Vish Dhamija’s book Bhendi Bazaar, will explore her character’s struggles with past guilt and present-day challenges.
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