Male actors need to say that wage gap in Bollywood is wrong: Aditi Rao Hydari

Aditi Rao Hydari's Bhoomi is close to release and the actor is using her time in the spotlight to talk about several important issues in the industry.

While speaking to Mumbai Mirror about her career challenges, she touches on the wage gap in Bollywood: "This shouldn't even be the subject that people should discuss in 2017. I think that male actors, producers and directors should come forward and say that what is happening is wrong and needs to be changed. Girls are talking but change only happens together. We need everyone to stand together and demand it."

She clarifies, "Of course, I cannot expect to be paid as compared to a very senior actor. That's different, that comes with seniority, experience, box office, etc. But at least, it should be like me and a male counterpart, who has done exactly same amount of work or may be less, gets paid more because he is a guy, I don't understand that.

"The concept that, 'guys are the bread earners of the family' has been changed long back, so why not the pay at par? I think it's about time to change it."

About her personal challenges in the industry, Aditi admits, "I am completely dependent on people calling for my talent. And honestly, there is no hero recommending my name, nor am I a muse for a producer or director, that they are making films for me." But she's hopeful that "as long as my intention is to make good cinema and play a good role, [filmmakers] will find me."

Aditi's next Bhoomi is an action thriller in which she stars opposite Sanjay Dutt. The film releases on September 22.