December 15, 2022
1 min read

‘I’ve never had pay parity in Bollywood’

My generation of female actors have definitely asked [for equal pay],” she added. “We’ve asked, but we’ve not got it.”…says Priyanka

Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas revealed in an interview that her upcoming Amazon Prime Video series ‘Citadel’ is the first time she’s ever received equal pay as her male co-stars. She has been acting for 20 years.

“I’ve never had pay parity in Bollywood,” Priyanka said in an interview for BBC’s 100 Women (via The Independent).

“I would get paid about 10 per cent of the salary of my male co-actor. (The pay gap) is large, substantially large. And so many women still deal with that. I’m sure I will too if I worked with a male co-actor now in Bollywood.

“My generation of female actors have definitely asked [for equal pay],” she added. “We’ve asked, but we’ve not got it.”

Priyanka detailed other ways in which she contended against sexism while working on Bollywood productions. “I thought it was absolutely ok to sit for hours and hours on set, while my male co-actor just took his own time, and decided whenever he wanted to show up on set is when we would shoot,” she said.

“I was called ‘black cat’ and ‘dusky.’ I mean, what does ‘dusky’ even mean in a country where we are literally all brown?” Chopra Jonas continued. “I thought I was not pretty enough, I believed that I would have to work a lot harder, even though I thought I was probably a little bit more talented than my fellow actors who were lighter skinned.”

Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming ‘Citadel’ hails from ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ directors Joe and Anthony Russo and features an ensemble cast that is headlined by Priyanka and Richard Madden.

The show is billed as an “action-packed spy series” that spans the globe, and it’s being designed to launch spinoff series set in India, Spain Mexico and more.

ALSO READ-Shanaya Kapoor collaborates with Miraggio for a youthful campaign

Previous Story

MP politicians fume over Deepika’s saffron costume in ‘Pathaan’

Next Story

‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’ first look promises a fresh take on love

Latest from Lite Blogs

Sohar Malayalees Celebrate Talent

The Programme Convener Jayan Menon noted that the SMS Youth Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform celebrating the talent and spirit of the Indian diaspora in Oman…writes Vinod Raghavan A

‘Homebound’ to Open DIFF

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s acclaimed feature Homebound, India’s official entry for the Oscars 2026, is set to open the 14th edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). The much-anticipated festival, running from

Jaya Bachchan Rejects ‘Bollywood’ Label

Veteran actress and parliamentarian Jaya Bachchan made a striking statement at the Filmfare Awards 2025, held in Ahmedabad, as she received the Cine Icon Award. Using the platform to voice a concern close

Coconut Chutney Magic

Some food pairings are classics for a reason—like idli and dosa with a bowl of fresh coconut chutney. This creamy, zesty, and utterly satisfying side dish transforms a simple breakfast into something

Kim Kardashian Stuns Concealed

The gala, co-chaired by Jon M. Chu, Common, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, Jennifer Hudson, and Alejandro Ramírez Magaña, raised vital support for the museum’s ongoing
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Bollywood Fuels British Creative Sector

Housefull 5, the fifth instalment of the hit Bollywood comedy

Britain’s Railway to Celebrate 30 Years of DDLJ

The DDLJ Musical at the Manchester Opera House on May