Actor Priyamani has opened up about her experiences with unequal pay in the film industry. In a recent conversation with News18, the National Award-winning performer revealed that there were times when she earned less than her male co-stars but said she has since made peace with it.
“Yes, it’s true that I’ve been paid less than my male counterparts,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t bother me anymore. I know what my market value is and what I bring to the table. I will only charge what I believe I deserve — nothing more, nothing less. I don’t see the need to ask for an unnecessary hike.”
Priyamani added that she approaches the issue pragmatically, emphasising that pay often reflects one’s demand in the market. “You ask for what you’re worth, and you’ll get it,” she said, stressing that her perspective stems from personal experience rather than resentment.
The actor also drew comparisons between working cultures in different regions, pointing out how punctuality and discipline differ across industries. “In the South, if shooting is scheduled to start at 8 am, it really begins at 8,” she explained. “Whereas here, when people say 8, they actually arrive at that time — so there’s a difference in approach.”
Priyamani, who was recently seen in the Malayalam thriller Officer on Duty and Revathy’s The Good Wife (the Indian adaptation of the American series), continues to balance roles across multiple languages. She will next be seen in Jana Nayagan, actor Vijay’s final film before his entry into politics.
Meanwhile, fans of The Family Man can look forward to her return in the highly anticipated third season of the Prime Video series, alongside Manoj Bajpayee, Sharib Hashmi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur, Ashlesha Thakur, and Vedant Sinha. On Tuesday, the streamer announced that the series will make a return on November 21.
