I don’t think I’m underpaid: Kangana on pay parity, rejecting Khan-led films

Unlike most Bollywood leading ladies, firebrand actor Kangana Ranaut does not feel like she is a victim of unequal pay when compared to her male colleagues. When asked about pay parity in a recent interview, the Queen actor shared that she does not believe she is underpaid anymore, going on to thank “all the men” who helped her in her journey to stardom.

Responding to the Free Press Journal about a question on pay inequality in the film industry, Kangana shared, "I am sure I am not underpaid. This makes me feel all the men have helped me through this journey. Earlier, at times, I did think, why don’t I get paid equally like the heroes at this stage of my life? But now, happily, I can say that I am not underpaid."

Citing the trailblazing work of the film heroines of yesteryears such as Rekha and Hema Malini, Kangana explained that she believes they made way for an industry “where we don’t only get the privileges of leading ladies, but the privileges of a hero on set”.

Speaking about the low points in her career and how she refused projects with many big names of the Bollywood industry, Kanagana added,  "I have had my own fair share of lower points when I refused a lot of male-centric films, you know, Khan-led films or Kumar-led films, all kinds of big hero films.”

She continued, “I always had this vision that this [pointing towards a poster of her latest film Dhaakad] is possible. Of course, I didn't plan it, but I had the vision. I can’t execute it alone; you need somebody like [director] Razneesh Ghai and [producers] Deepak Mukut and Sohel Maklai. I’d say that for a woman to have a successful journey, so many men support her. So, it is a combination of many things."

Recently, in a video shared on Instagram by a paparazzi account, Kangana called the Bollywood film RRR a blockbuster, adding that it has everything a film should have, explaining that nationalism is her “favourite subject.”

She also urged fans to watch the film in cinemas. When asked which film she watched recently, Kangana named RRR and smiled. After a person asked her about it, she remarked, "It’s a blockbuster, mast ek dum [Amazing]. And nationalism is my favourite subject. Isme sab kuch hai jo hona chahiye ek film me [This has everything that a film should have]."

The film is all about a fictional take on the younger days of celebrated “freedom fighters,” Komaram Bheem and Alluri Seetharama Raju, portrayed by Jr NTR and Ram Charan, which is set in pre-independence India. The film also features Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Olivia Morris, Alison Doody, and Ray Stevenson.

Kangana also praised the director of the film SS Rajamouli in her Instagram stories. The actor posted some pictures of him writing, "SS Rajamouli sir has proven he is the greatest Indian film director ever. He has never ever given an unsuccessful film." She further added, "Yet the best thing about him is not his humility as an artist, it is his sadagi (simplicity) as a person and his great love for his nation and his dharma. Great to have a role model like you, sir, sincerely your fan."