Rahul Bose Reveals He Was Paid Much Less Than Kareena Kapoor For Chameli—"She Drew The Crowds"

Actor Rahul Bose recently reflected on the pay disparity between him and Kareena Kapoor during the making of the 2003 film Chameli. Speaking at Mardon Wali Baat, a national conference on men, masculinities, and gender-based violence, he admitted that Kareena was the bigger star and naturally commanded a higher paycheck.

Rahul humorously referred to himself as a "starlet," acknowledging that he never had the ability to draw large audiences to theatres. "Men have also been starlets, and I am a shining example of that. In Chameli, I was the starlet, and Kareena was the star. Even today, she brings more people to the theatre than I ever could. I was paid a fraction of what she earned, and it was completely logical. I don't bring people into the theatre, simple as that," Rahul said, as reported by PTI.

Discussing pay disparity in the industry, Rahul stated that he had no complaints about his lower pay. As someone who has produced films, he understands the business side of the industry. "If I were the producer, I wouldn't have paid me more either. I don't buy the argument of gender pay disparity-this industry is actually very fair. If you bring in money, you get paid more; if you don't, you get paid less," he explained. He also pointed out that the number of women working in the film industry is higher than in many other fields.

While addressing the portrayal of masculinity and violence against women in Indian cinema, Rahul acknowledged that films are often blamed for societal issues. However, he argued that cinema is merely a reflection of society, calling it a "faithful younger sibling" of reality. He also noted that the depiction of violence against women has remained inconsistent over the decades, with no significant improvement or decline since the 1950s.

Rahul Bose, known for his roles in Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Anuranan, Antaheen, and The Japanese Wife, has also starred in mainstream films such as Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Dil Dhadakne Do, Shaurya, and Vishwaroopam.