Are Deepika and Katrina starting a new trend in Bollywood?

The disparity in remuneration of Bollywood actors and actresses remains a reality in the Hindi film industry despite the success of women-oriented films like 'Kahaani', 'Queen' and 'Bobby Jasoos'.

Established actresses in the industry like Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan and Katrina Kaif have been vocal about the issue.

Few are acting upon it and asking for pay hikes.

Actresses point out that the credit for a successful movie should go to all the artists involved and not just the male lead.

According to a leading daily, a producer whose previous film, a thriller, did well at the box office, decided to make a sequel featuring either Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif.

But these stars are reportedly quoting Rs15 crore (INR) for the one film, a clear Rs5 crore more than what A-list actresses are usually said to charge.

Not being able to meet them even halfway, said producer has reportedly moved on to look for a replacement.

The filmmaker is now eyeing newcomers like Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt for the film's open spot.

What any producer should be making a note of is how it's only a matter of time before the 'replacement heroine' also hikes her fee, since time and fame wait for no one.

Addressing the issue of pay disparity, actress Aditi Rao Hydari told PTI, "I don't really understand why we are paid less than the male actors because we put equal efforts and the recent past has shown that actresses can deliver a hit film. We deserve better pay, equal to what actors get."

Kareena Kapoor has declared that there is a huge difference between the remuneration given to male stars as compared to their female counterparts.

The remuneration charged by the three Khans (Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir) of the industry is approximately in the range of Rs35 crore to Rs40 crore as acting fees, per film.

In contrast top notch actresses are paid between Rs5 to Rs7 crore as acting fees, per film.

According to a trade magazine top Bollywood actresses like Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif get about Rs5 crore.

Priyanka Chopra has in the past decade grown to be huge star. The actress made headlines when she was roped in for 'Zanjeer' for a whopping Rs9 crore, thus making her the highest paid actress at present.

Kareena Kapoor charged Rs8 crore for Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Heroine'.
 
Other top actresses like Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut too feel the remuneration offered to female actress is very little and must be increased.

Rumours are abuzz that Kangana Ranaut, who is riding high on the success of her last hit ‘Queen’, has hiked her fee by 50 per cent. The actress says she chose to hike her fees as she believes she deserves it.

Now that actresses like Deepika, Katrina and Kangana have decided to hike their fees will it bring about change in the pay structure in Bollywood?

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