Introduction

Hindi cinema, a vibrant and influential segment of the global film industry, has seen its fair share of gender-based paradigm shifts, particularly in terms of the remuneration structures for lead actors. In this article, we explore how much female lead actresses earn compared to their male counterparts, investigating historical and contemporary salary gaps in the industry.

Historical Context

1940s and 1950s saw the emergence of iconic figures like Devika Rani and such stars who commanded significant pay. This era marked a time when actresses like Devika Rani earned more than male actors, as seen in 'Devika Rani's pay surpassing that of Dilip Kumar in a movie.' It is crucial to highlight that these earnings refer to films where heroes did not receive a percentage fee or were producers themselves.

Tamil Cinema in the 1970s also featured a notable disparity, where actresses like KP Subdarambal earned 1 Lakh per film, while heroes such as MGR and Sivaji earned 2-3 Lakh rupees. Hema Malini, a co-star, earned 1 Lakh rupee during the same period, highlighting the pay gap that was prevalent even in non-studio film industries.

Changing Dynamics

1975-1978 to 1980s witnessed a marked increase in male actor salaries, with Amitabh Bachchan earning between 4-6 Lakh rupees to 8-10 Lakh rupees. During this time, the lead actress Hema Malini earned between 1 Lakh to 1.5 Lakh rupees. This disparity was reflective of a broader trend that was mirrored across various languages and regions in the film industry, including Bengali and Malayalam cinema, where the pay was approximately 3:1 in favor of male actors.

The standout exception in the 1970s was Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, who shared the fees equally in their films. In later years, Bhagyashree and Himalay Patwardhan split the fees equally as well, but in Bhagyashree’s favor, as her husband reportedly did not allow her to act unless he was her hero, making her a dead weight in terms of earnings.

Hollywood’s Historical Parallels

In Hollywood, until the studio system ended, male stars like Spencer Tracy and James Cagney garnered four to five times the earnings of their female counterparts like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. This trend continued until the modern era, although the disparity has significantly narrowed. In the past, as mentioned, Meg Ryan earned 10 times more than Hugh Jackman in a film, and contemporary stars like Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, and Halle Berry frequently earn more than their male co-stars.

Even in television, the disparity has been noticeable. Tina Fey, the lead actress in '30 Rock,' had a net earning that was more than that of her male lead, Alec Baldwin.

Current Trends in Hindi Cinema

Today, the pay gap in Hindi cinema has been significantly reduced, but it still exists to a degree. Several top actresses earn more than their male co-stars. For instance, Deepika Padukone commands a salary of 15-20 Crores, while Kareena Kapoor, who is less frequent in films, can be compared to Vijay Sethupathi's 21 Crores for the film 'Jawan.'

While male actors often earn percentages and producer shares, they still command salaries in the range of 30-40 Crores or even 50 Crores. Notable examples include Ranbir Kapoor, who commands a fee of 60-70 Crores, and Hrithik Roshan, who can command 60-90 Crores, with the latter being an exception when he works with Filmkraft.

Conclusion

The pay gap in Hindi cinema has shown significant evolution over the decades, from situations where female lead actresses earned more to today's more equitable but still existing disparity. The industry continues to grapple with these issues, but the trend towards gender equality in remuneration is a testament to the progress being made.

Key Figures and Actors

Some prominent figures in the analysis include Devika Rani, Hema Malini, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Bhagyashree, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Hrithik Roshan.