Saif Ali Khan: Pay Tied to Box Office Power

Saif Ali Khan has commented on the pay disparity within the Indian film industry, stating that an actor's remuneration is largely dictated by their box-office pull. During a podcast with his sister Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu, Khan emphasized that if actors possess equal stature, they should be compensated similarly. However, he also pointed out that the industry's economic system reflects business realities, where an actor's pay is directly tied to their capacity to draw audiences to cinemas.

Khan elaborated that the remuneration system is not gender-biased but rather mirrors an actor's market value and their proven ability to fill theaters. He clarified that an actor's worth is assessed based on their demonstrated success and the price they can command due to their popularity. Kunal Kemmu added that distributors often factor in star power when estimating a film's potential financial recovery, underscoring the mathematical aspect of actor compensation in the film business.