- By Swati Singh
- Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The issue of pay disparity in the Indian film industry has long been debated, particularly regarding the gap between male and female actors’ earnings. Recently, Saif Ali Khan shared his perspective on the matter during a podcast on Soha Ali Khan’s YouTube channel, which also featured Kunal Kemmu. Speaking about the topic, Saif said that actors who can draw larger audiences to theatres deserve higher pay, adding that salaries in the industry are largely determined by box-office performance and audience demand rather than gender.
Saif said, "If the actors are of equal stature, they should be paid the same amount. But I also feel the economics work in a certain way. If you are putting people in seats in the theatre, you get paid accordingly. Everyone understands that relationship."
Saif further added, "It’s not like just because you are a certain gender you deserve to be paid more or less. It’s actually a very balanced economic system where people are clear that this person is a superstar because they are filling theatres. They know their worth, charge that price and get paid."
During the conversation, Kunal Kemmu explained the “maths” behind how actors’ salaries are decided in the film industry. He said distributors often calculate a film’s recovery potential based on the star power attached to a project. According to him, earlier distributors knew that casting a particular actor could help sell distribution rights in certain territories for a fixed amount, which would then become part of the film’s overall recovery.
Saif Ali Khan, son of veteran actor Sharmila Tagore and husband of Kareena Kapoor, has several projects lined up. He will next appear in the Netflix period drama Hum Hindustani, directed by Rahul Dholakia and co-starring Pratik Gandhi. He also has Haiwaan with Akshay Kumar, directed by Priyadarshan. Last year, Saif appeared in the Netflix film Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins.