Smriti Irani Gets Candid About Pay Parity Ahead Of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's Return
Smriti Irani is set to make a return to the small screen in the highly anticipated Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's new season. Irani's much-awaited comeback will reunite her with Amar Upadhyay, bringing back the unforgettable Tulsi-Mihir duo on screen. The actress-turned-politician has been working in television for over decades and appeared on shows, including Ramayan, Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan and Virrudh, among others.
The actress joined Karan Johar for We The Women and was seen opening up about pay parity in the entertainment industry. The actress reflected on the changes she and producer Ekta Kapoor made in the television industry and shared how she made it possible to get paid more than the male lead in the show.
'Today, in the so-called woke generation that you speak of, there is a huge conversation around pay parity. That was the time when we broke the so-called glass ceiling where the female protagonist unabashedly said that I'm paid more than the male actor," Irani stated. She further stated if this is to happen again in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's return, she believes given Ekta Kapoor's inclination of pushing the envelope, she would do it again.
The actress further revealed she was not paid more than her male lead when she first joined the show. 'I was not paid more than the male protagonist when I had signed the contract," Irani noted, sharing that she was successful in bridging pay parity after she created a space over time with the support of her producer.
In collaboration with Ekta Kapoor, Irani was able to script history. 'I remember when we did that particular engagement contract, Ekta Kapoor was very focused on the history we were about to create," she shared, adding that while everybody was bothered about the pay cheque, Ekta Kapoor was focused on what threshold she could cross or what new standards she could set in the industry.
The highly anticipated second season of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi was previously delayed due to Vastu concerns; however, the show is expected to go on floors from July 3.
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