Kajal Aggarwal talks about GENDER PAY GAP in films: 'There is definitely a disparity, hope lot more actors will speak about it'

Actor Kajal Aggarwal has joined the growing conversation around pay parity in the entertainment industry, stating that female performers continue to earn significantly less than their male counterparts. The discussion has gained momentum in recent weeks following Deepika Padukone's reported exit from 'Spirit', which reignited debates around work schedules, compensation, and professional conditions for women in cinema.With her upcoming film 'The India Story' gearing up for release next month, Kajal shared her perspective on some of the industry's most talked-about issues.Addressing the gap in remuneration between male and female actors, Kajal said she hopes more artists come forward and openly discuss the issue.Talking to Variety India, the actress shraed, "I hope a lot more actors will speak about it. There is definitely a disparity. Things are changing slowly. People are working toward it. It has become a lot more corporate, which has changed the game. And yet there is no comparison. The difference between male and female actors’ remuneration is massive."Kajal, who is raising her four-year-old son, also reflected on how becoming a mother has reshaped her approach to work. She explained that maintaining a balanced schedule has become increasingly important."Things have changed for me since I became a mother. My priorities have shifted, and it has become more challenging. I want to rush home at a specific hour. I try to structure my daily routine in a way that ensures I have fixed timings at work. I ensure that I write that down in my contract. I do one shift a day, which is approximately nine hours. In our industry, sometimes there are extraneous factors that are out of anyone’s control, and you have to be flexible."The actor also weighed in on the ongoing discussion about work culture in different film industries. Agreeing with recent observations about the South industry's discipline, Kajal highlighted the professionalism she has experienced there throughout her career."That is true. We don’t work beyond nine hours. I am a little more biased toward the South industry, because that is where I started my career, and there is a certain comfort level that I don’t enjoy in Bollywood. Besides the discipline and punctuality, there is a lot of respect for women here."When asked about the comparatively lower number of women working behind the scenes in South cinema, Kajal acknowledged the imbalance but believes the situation is gradually improving. "Yes, to some extent, that is correct. But the numbers are changing. The graph is tilting. It’s just a matter of time before there will be a complete shift."As conversations around equal pay, workplace flexibility, and representation continue to grow louder, Kajal's remarks add another voice to the industry's ongoing push for change.