At IIFA 2025, the Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit highlights gender pay gap struggles in cinema, emphasizing the ongoing fight for equality.
Madhuri Dixit Speaks on Pay Disparity: ‘We Have a Long Way to Go’
Jaipur, March 8 – Despite progress in gender equality, the pay disparity between men and women in the film industry remains a pressing issue, and veteran actress Madhuri Dixit Nene has now spoken candidly about it.
At a special session of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) 2025 in Jaipur, Madhuri addressed the persistent gap in earnings between male and female actors, emphasizing the ongoing challenges women face in proving their worth.
“I think for women, they have to prove themselves time and again to say that we’re equal, we can draw an audience, we can do that, but we have to prove it every single time,” Madhuri said.
She acknowledged that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.
“Yes, there is still a disparity… We are still a long way from actually when disparity stops happening, but I think we have to work every day towards that,” she added.
An Inspiring Discussion on Women in Cinema
Madhuri shared her insights during an engaging conversation with IIFA Vice President Noreen Khan.
Joining the discussion was Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, as part of a special International Women’s Day event titled “The Journey of Women in Cinema.”
The panel shed light on:
✔ The evolution of female representation in films
✔ The obstacles women face in the industry
✔ The struggle to break gender stereotypes
Madhuri, one of the biggest female superstars in Bollywood history, has long been an advocate for strong female roles and fair opportunities in the industry.
A Call for Change in Bollywood
With more actresses speaking up, the conversation around equal pay and gender bias in Bollywood is gaining momentum.
While female-led films are proving to be commercially successful, industry-wide changes in pay structure and opportunities are still awaited.
As Madhuri rightly put it, “We have a long way to go.”
Tags: Madhuri Dixit, Gender Pay Gap, Bollywood Pay Disparity, IIFA 2025, Women in Cinema, Guneet Monga, Gender Equality, Film Industry, Bollywood News, International Women’s Day