The Indian film industry has always had double standards. Acting or talent is not the criteria for doling out an actor’s pay check. That is why Naseeruddin Shah never got the crores that Jeetendra or Vinod Khanna did; Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil were always paid far lesser than Hema Malini and Rekha.
A trade analyst says, “Bollywood has fallen into the trap of labelling its actors – saleable and available. The glamour girls or the superboys, who usually score more in the looks department, have always overshadowed true talent. Stars have always been paid more, while actors have often had to fight to get what is rightfully due to them.” Take the latest case of Vidya Balan.
A powerhouse performer, Vidya has repeatedly proven her mettle in ‘Parineeta’, ‘Paa’, ‘Ishqiya’ and, now, ‘The Dirty Picture’. What’s more, Vidya has done it all by herself. She has no Khan or Kapoor by her side. Taran Adarsh says, “In a business where you are only as good as the numbers you generate, Vidya has proved that she is bigger than all the existing girls.
However, I think she hasn’t got her due because she is not good with her PR and doesn’t brag about being in the 60 to 80 million Indian rupees bracket like other girls do. Vidya lets her work do the talking.”
It is applicable to any industry in the world.
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