Kitu Gidwani: Bollywood Lacks Actor Rights, Royalties

Veteran actor Kitu Gidwani has voiced significant criticism regarding the Indian film industry, particularly Bollywood. She described it as a "fake industry" that operates under its own obscure rules, lacking formal structures like Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild.

Gidwani expressed dismay over the absence of intellectual property and creative rights for Indian artists. She stated that producers provide only a one-time fee, after which they can exploit the work freely, unlike in global industries where artists could potentially live off royalties for years.

Furthermore, Gidwani highlighted a systemic issue concerning older women in Bollywood. She lamented the scarcity of powerful and diverse roles, with women often relegated to stereotypical characters like mothers or aunts, and called for more dynamic characters with depth and complexity.