From the outside, Bollywood sparkles with glamour, glitz, and stories of empowerment. On screen, heroines are shown as strong, independent, and equal to their male counterparts. Films often portray women as no less capable than men. But behind the screen, the reality is starkly different. When it comes to pay cheques, Bollywood’s gender equality fades quickly.

Heroes Command Crores

The industry’s top male stars continue to rule the box office and the paycheck charts. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar easily charge anywhere between ₹100 crore to ₹250 crore per film, with profit-sharing deals boosting their earnings further. Shah Rukh Khan, after blockbuster successes like Pathaan and Jawan, has reportedly raised his fees to unprecedented levels.
Even the younger generation of stars is catching up. Ranbir Kapoor now charges over ₹70 crore per project, while others like Hrithik Roshan and Ajay Devgn are not far behind.

Heroines Left Behind

In contrast, the leading ladies of Bollywood — despite delivering critically acclaimed performances and box office hits — earn a fraction of what their male co-stars do.

• Deepika Padukone, one of the most bankable actresses, charges ₹15–20 crore per film.

• Alia Bhatt, praised as one of the finest actors of her generation, takes home ₹10–20 crore.

• Katrina Kaif commands ₹15–25 crore, while Kareena Kapoor Khan reportedly charges ₹8–18 crore.

Even the highest-paid heroines in India earn 5 to 10 times less than their male counterparts.

Equality on Screen, Not Off Screen

The contrast is clear: While Bollywood scripts often highlight women’s strength and equality, the industry’s pay scale continues to favor men. Despite audience acceptance of women-led films and growing recognition of female talent, financial recognition remains skewed.

On this Women’s Equality Day 2025, the numbers remind us that India’s biggest film industry still has a long way to go before achieving true gender parity — not just in dialogues and scripts, but in salaries too.