Kriti Sanon, who has a major release coming up with Cocktail 2, recently completed 12 years in the industry. The actor, who took a little time to find audience acceptance early on, gradually built her fanbase with films like Bareilly Ki Barfi, Mili, and Do Patti. In a recent interview, Kriti spoke about pay parity and the patriarchy ingrained in film industry to date.

Speaking with GQ, the Mili actor said, “Patriarchy is still deeply ingrained in the industry, and we have to keep shaking things up to move towards equality. There’s been some struggle around money. When producers have to cut corners, they often negotiate down the female lead’s fee, even though a large chunk of the budget goes to the male actor.”

Kriti further spoke about how patriarchy shows up in other smaller ways as well, adding, “There’s often a tendency on a film set to check if the female actor is ready first, so the male actor doesn’t have to wait. It’s subconscious, but it needs to change.” 

Recalling her struggles in early days of her career, she added, “Early in my career, it was difficult to voice everything. I remember small things, like a male co-star, who wasn’t a senior, getting a better car. Of course, it wasn’t about the car, but about being respected equally. Most producers and directors today are progressive, but these biases still exist.”

Kriti’s last film Tere Ishk Mein emerged as a major hit despite mixed reviews, bagging her as much praise as her co-star Dhanush.

Meanwhile, in Cocktail 2, Kriti will be seen sharing screen with Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. The Homi Adjania film will arrive in theatres on June 19.