Zeenat Aman revels about the pay disparity in Bollywood

In a lengthy Instagram post, Zeenat Aman discussed how Hindi cinema is still plagued by the pay disparity.

After making her Instagram debut, actress Zeenat Aman has addressed the topic of salary inequality in Hindi film. The actress posted an old clip of her interview on Instagram, which took place while she was practising for the role of Laila O Laila during the filming of Qurbani.

In the video, Zeenat, who is dressed in the movie’s attire, discusses how female performers were used as ornaments 90% of the time in Hindi films at the time.

Zeenat Aman included a lengthy note in the caption as well. Providing context for the video, she wrote, “In the late 70s, Keith Adam from the Australian Broadcasting Commission popped by the set of Qurbani, where I was rehearsing for ‘Laila O Laila’, and snagged himself an interview.”

Zeenat Aman wrote regarding the development of Hindi film in terms of creating substantial roles for female actors, “It’s been nearly 50 years since this footage was shot, and the industry has changed immensely since. The roles available to women are clearly not just ornamental anymore.”

Yet, as she said in the caption, the salary disparity is still an issue in Hindi film, “What hasn’t changed though is the gender pay gap. In my time I was lauded as the “highest paid female actor”, but the disparity in the pay cheque between my male co-stars and myself was so vast it was laughable.”

“The Zeenat you see in this clip was quite certain that half a century would be enough time to even the scales. So it disappoints me that even today women in the film industry don’t have wage parity. Women have consistently put in the work, and I really think that the onus is now on our men – actors, directors, producers – to ensure that their female co-workers (not just stars) are paid fairly. It seems such a simple and obvious thing, and yet it would be revolutionary if any man actually did this,” she wrote.

Zeenat Aman has gained fans for her Instagram images and captions ever since she joined the platform.