Big hero films don't pay much, it's like they're doing me a favour: Taapsee speaks out on pay gap

Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu, known for her versatility, recently opened up about her surprising remuneration for the film 'Dunki', where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani and released in 2023, 'Dunki' was a box office success, grossing over Rs 300 crore in India. However, Taapsee shared in an interview with Indian Express that she wasn’t paid as much as many would expect for a big film like this.

"Funnily, people think I do films like 'Judwaa' or 'Dunki' for money, that I get paid a lot. But no, it is the opposite. I actually get paid more for films that I headline, like 'Haseen Dillruba'. Other films don’t really pay me much because they feel they’re doing me a favor by casting me," Tapsee said.

The actress highlighted the industry’s mindset, saying, "They feel, ‘There is already a big hero, why do we need anybody else for that?’ I fight these notions on a daily basis." 

Taapsee also touched on the reality of casting in Bollywood, where top male actors often have the final say on who their co-stars will be.

“Now, even the audience knows that heroes decide who the heroine is going to be in most of their films," she said.

"Until you have a very big, super-successful director with their own audience, it’s usually the hero’s decision. Otherwise, the director will take a call no matter what,” she added.

'Dunki' tells the story of friends who dream of moving abroad, taking an unconventional route known as "Donkey Flight," which brings its own set of challenges. Alongside Taapsee and SRK, Vicky Kaushal also stars in the film, adding depth to this emotional journey of ambition and resilience.

On the work front, Taapsee will soon appear in 'Gandhari', her upcoming film on Netflix. While the release date hasn’t been announced, Netflix recently teased audiences with an introduction to the project.