Taapsee Pannu, the Indian actress known for her versatility and powerful performances, recently made an eye-opening disclosure about the pay disparity she experienced while working on the 2023 film “Dunki”, directed by acclaimed Rajkumar Hirani. In an interview, Taapsee shared that despite her role opposite Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, she received lower remuneration for the project.
Discussing common misconceptions, Taapsee stated that it is really funny that people believe she does movies like “Judwaa” and “Dunki” for money and she is paid a lot but it is not the case as she gets paid more for the movies in which she plays lead role such as “Haseen Dilruba”. She added that as far as other movies are concerned, she doesn’t get paid much because the makers feel that they are doing a favor to her by signing her in that kind of movie.
Taapsee highlighted the prevailing industry attitude where producers often rely on the draw of a leading male star, which impacts the compensation offered to other actors. She further said that the makers feel they already have a big hero then why they need someone else and she has to fight such thinking on a daily basis.
Elaborating further, Taapsee pointed out the significant influence male actors have in determining their female co-stars. Taapsee stated that now even the audience is aware of the fact that it is the hero of the movie who decides who the heroine will be until and unless the director is super successful, he has his own audience and he takes the decision regarding the leading lady of the film.
“Dunki” which tells the poignant story of friends attempting to emigrate using the unconventional and risky “Donkey Flight” method resonated well with the audiences. The film featured Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, amassing over Rs 300 crore at the Indian box office. While the film was well-received, director Rajkumar Hirani shared in an interview that even Shah Rukh Khan anticipated that the film’s earnings would not reach the same heights as his blockbuster action hits like “Jawan” and “Pathaan”.
Looking ahead, Taapsee Pannu is set to star in “Gandhari”, adding another interesting project to her diverse filmography.
