Poll | Gender pay parity in Bollywood 'bullsh*t'. Is Salman right?

Salman Khan has dismissed the discussion about gender pay parity as 'bullsh*t'. He believes that the salary you command will depend on the return on investment you can get.

While a host of female actors have complained about how poorly they are paid in comparison to their male counterparts in Bollywood, actor-producer Salman Khan feels the debate doesn't hold water. In fact, the 49-year-old dismisses it as “bulls**t talk”.

“The question is, who is pulling those people into a theatre?” asks Khan, adding, “If a female star is getting those many people and the producer is making money, the exhibitor and distributor are all making money, then obviously they (female actors) will get that much money... but if it’s a male star, then he will get it.”

Salman also points out that there are many male actors who are earning less than many female actors, and that’s solely because of the influence they command at the box office. “There are so many male stars who get a lot less than many female stars... there are male stars in the Rs 1 to 3 crore bracket, and there are lots of female stars in the Rs 5 to 7 crore bracket... that’s also there, right? Uske bare mein koi kyun nahi bolta? So this whole female stars-male stars debate is bulls**t. Whoever is selling, and as much he or she is selling, will get that much,” he says.

Gear up to watch Salman Khan who will join entertainers on the Saturday (Sept 12) episode of Comedy Nights Bachao.