Wamiqa Gabbi admits pay disparity exists in Bollywood: ‘Reasoning is that a male actor can pull more audience'
During a conversation with Zoom, Wamiqa spoke about the issue of pay disparity in the industry, saying women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts.
'The fact that pay disparity exists doesn't consume me, but there is this feeling that you're a woman and you will be paid less and that is how it is. The reasoning is that a male actor can pull that much audience, but you can't make a film without the heroine. I don't understand the logic behind this. Sometimes, they take a hero and pay a lot of money, and then the film doesn't work. Why doesn't their fees get affected?" Wamiqa said.
And the actor is finding her own way to fight back against the pay gap. She added, 'I want to find different ways to earn that money. I wish to do it in a creative way where I feel happier and decrease that pay gap for myself. I can't deny this fact that pay disparity is there. Not every 'male-centric' film can do without the female lead."
Wamiqa was recently seen in Bhool Chuk Maaf opposite Rajkummar Rao. The film also stars Seema Pahwa, Sanjay Mishra and Ishtiyak Khan. It is produced by Dinesh Vijan under his banner Maddock Films. Bhool Chuk Maaf revolves around a soon-to-be-married man who realises that he is stuck in a time loop and keeps reliving the day before his wedding. Directed by Karan Sharma, the romantic comedy film was released on May 23.
Next, she will be seen in Dil Ka Darwaza Khol Na Darling, Bhooth Bangla and Goodachari 2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Jamie Lever opens up about chilling close call with casting couch: ‘I thought I was safe being Johny Lever's daughter'
In an industry built on dreams, the path to stardom often conceals a grim reality. While the glamour of Bollywood continues to inspire millions, the film industry's long-standing problem with the casting couch is far from a secret. But what happens when even a star kid becomes a target? Actor-comedian Jamie Lever, daughter of veteran comic Johny Lever, recently shared a harrowing account of how she narrowly escaped being exploited by a con posing as an international film director. Her chilling experience sheds light on how even those with industry connections aren't always immune to the darker forces at play. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category PGDM Product Management Design Thinking Finance Leadership healthcare Others Data Science Artificial Intelligence others CXO Technology Operations Management Healthcare Public Policy Digital Marketing Data Science MCA MBA Cybersecurity Data Analytics Management Project Management Degree Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details A 'Golden Surname' Isn't Always a Shield Speaking to Zoom, Jamie recalled how, early in her career, she believed her father's legacy would serve as a protective buffer. 'I had heard about casting couch incidents but thought I was safe, being Johny Lever's daughter. I considered it a blessing,' she admitted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo But before she had a manager, Jamie used to approach casting agents independently, often circulating her contact details for work opportunities. That's how she received a call from someone claiming to be an international director, looking to audition her for a role in a foreign film. The audition, conducted over a video call, turned into something disturbing. The man informed Jamie he was travelling and couldn't turn on his camera. He said there was no script, but that she'd be auditioning for a bold role. Then came the alarming request—he asked her to improvise a scene seducing a 50-year-old man, and strip during the performance. You Might Also Like: 'My wife thought I was mad': Comedian Johnny Lever reveals what he did to cope with son's cancer A Refusal That Could Have Saved Her Uncomfortable and suspicious, Jamie refused to comply. 'I said I'm not very comfortable with this. When there is a script, I will follow that,' she recounted. After ending the call, the reality hit her. Had she followed instructions, she could have been recorded and later blackmailed. 'That's when I realised how big a scam this could have been. They could have made a video and harassed me,' Jamie said. Her story isn't just a one-off incident. It's a cautionary tale of how even those born into Bollywood can fall prey to manipulative schemes, especially when trying to establish themselves independently. 'It Was Almost Like the Casting Couch Was Trending' Jamie's account is disturbingly echoed by actress Surveen Chawla, who opened up in a recent interview with Sidharth Kannan. Surveen revealed that there was a time when the casting couch was so pervasive, it felt 'trending.' You Might Also Like: 'Nahi milega, phir aa jaate ho': Comedian Gaurav Gupta's witty crowdwork with Pakistani audience amid Indo-Pak tensions sparks mixed reactions 'I felt like I had hit the end of the road,' she admitted, reflecting on the emotional toll of repeatedly being propositioned and punished for saying 'no'. 'There was rejection every time I had the audacity to say no. It was just filthy,' she confessed. Surveen, now known for acclaimed roles across films and streaming platforms, almost left the industry altogether. Yet, she chose to stay and forge her path on her terms.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Johnny Lever's Daughter Jamie Weighs In On Bollywood Nepotism: "My Journey Has Been Quite Different"
New Delhi: Actor-comedian Jonny Lever's daughter Jamie Lever has opened up about the concept of nepotism in Bollywood. She recalled her difficult journey in the film industry marked by countless auditions and rejections. The actress also revealed the reason why she doesn't consider herself a 'nepo kid'. Jamie Lever, in an interview with Zoom, revealed, 'I'm seeing this very closely now. There's a difference between being a nepo kid and being an actor's kid. I feel like I'm an actor's kid. I'm the daughter of an actor, but my journey has been very different. Nepo kids have a different path. They often enjoy a lot of privileges and are given opportunities, sometimes even without proving their talent or ability." She added, 'I've been observing this up close, my journey has been quite different. And there's a clear distinction. Even though I'm a child of the industry, I can see how big the difference is.' Recounting her challenges, the 37-year-old shared, 'There are people who get roles served to them on a silver platter, being handed lead parts in films without much effort. And then there are people like us who've had to go through countless auditions, face rejections, and still keep going.' Jamie remembered a piece of advice given to her by Johnny Lever. She said, 'If you're handed an opportunity on a silver platter, you must give it your all. Take all the training you can to become the best version of yourself. My father once warned me: 'If you want to enter this industry, be the best, or do not bother at all'.' Johnny Lever, known for his impeccable comic timing, shot to fame in the 1990s by playing memorable characters in films like Baazigar, Deewana Mastana, Dulhe Raja, and Baadshah. Meanwhile, Jamie Lever has appeared in several movies, including Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, Housefull 4, Bhoot Police, Yaatris, and Crakk. At present, she is ready to embark on her comedy tour, The Jamie Lever Show. It will begin on August 1 in Seattle, United States, and will cover 15 cities, finally wrapping up on August 31 in Boston.
Pink Villa
8 hours ago
- Pink Villa
When Amrita Singh said she was ready to ‘sell everything' as a single parent after divorce from Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan 's first marriage to Amrita Singh ended in a publicly discussed divorce in 2004. After this, the actress went on to become a single parent and raise her children, Sara and Ibrahim, single-handedly. In one of her later interviews, Amrita had opened up about the challenges she faced during this period. When Amrita Singh spoke of her hurt post-divorce In an older interview with Pooja Bedi on Zoom, Amrita Singh had opened up about the phase of her life right after her divorce. She mentioned how difficult it was for her to come to terms with the fact that there is always something to gain and lose in life. Addressing the immense hurt she carried as a woman, Amrita said, 'I was hurt, I was very hurt. I didn't think of other issues at that time. I had to first deal with my emotions as a woman." Amrita Singh said she was willing to sell everything as a single parent In the same interview, Amrita also discussed the most critical responsibility she had at that time, which was raising her children alone. She added that despite having two young kids under her wing, she was strong and wasn't scared of any of the challenges. The Betaab actress mentioned that if need be, she would be willing to sell off everything and move to a smaller place to earn enough to feed her kids and survive. In her words, 'What will happen if money doesn't come? I will sell everything and shift to a smaller house. At least we'll get the food and we'll survive. I'm happy in some aspects, or maybe I am not, and this happens often throughout life." When Sara Ali Khan revealed that her mom Amrita still manages her finances Fast forward to now, both Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan have grown up and have established themselves as actors in Bollywood. However, despite their fame, it is their family, especially their mother, Amrita, who remains at the core of their lives. Previously, while speaking at the Times Now Summit 2025, Sara mentioned how her finances are still managed by her mother. She explained, 'My mom handles my money entirely. Even my GPay account is linked to her. My OTPs come on her phone.'
