Kriti Sanon On Actresses’ Financial Struggles, Gender Parity: Patriarchy Still Deeply Ingrained In Bollywood

It’s

2026, and the debate around gender parity in Bollywood is still ongoing. Many actresses, including Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, have openly discussed their male counterparts taking home bigger paychecks. Actress Kriti Sanon, who is also a producer, recently spoke about the issue and said that she has faced financial struggles. She explained that when producers try to cut budgets, they often negotiate down the female lead’s fee, while a large portion of the film’s budget typically goes to the male actor. The actress also said that patriarchy is still deeply rooted in the industry.

Kriti Sanon On Actresses’ Financial Struggles, Gender Parity

"There’s been some struggle around money," Kriti told GQ India while addressing gender parity. She added that people need to keep pushing for equality as patriarchy still exists in Bollywood. According to her, it is visible even in small things on film sets. Kriti said that she has always tried to stand up for herself, although it was difficult to speak openly during the early phase of her career. She also recalled instances where male co-stars, who were not even seniors, received better facilities. But for her, it was never about material things, but about equal respect.

The Mimi actress further said that while many producers and directors today are progressive, such biases continue to exist.Kriti then spoke about the difference she wants to make as a producer. She pointed out that women often play smaller parts in male-led films, whereas very few top male stars take on supporting roles in women-led stories. She hopes this mindset changes in the future. She clarified that she is open to doing male-centric films as well, but wants to create more opportunities for women because there are still very few well-written and substantial roles for them.

Upcoming Projects

Sanon was last seen in Aanand L Rai's romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, alongside Dhanush. The National Award-winning actress will next be seen in Cocktail 2. The spiritual sequel to Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty's hit flick of the same name, also features Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. Kriti plays Ally in the Homi Adajania directorial, which is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 19, 2026.Kriti’s "baddie" avatar in the film and the dance number Jab Talak have already left fans excited for the big release.Apart from this, she has several other projects in the pipeline.