Saif Ali Khan shares his views on Bollywood pay disparity, responding to Kareena Kapoor’s claim that she earns less than male actors. The actor explains why box office appeal determines salaries in the industry.
Qalam Times News Network
Mumbai | March 9, 2026
Saif Ali Khan Questions the Narrative Around Bollywood Pay Gap
Saif Ali Khan has publicly shared a different view from his wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, on the long-discussed issue of salary differences in Bollywood. While Kareena has previously spoken about not receiving the same level of remuneration as some of her male co-stars—and even less than her husband in certain cases—Saif believes the situation is more about market dynamics than gender.
The couple, who have been married for nearly fourteen years, are often admired for their strong relationship and mutual respect. Kareena has repeatedly expressed her admiration for Saif, saying she still feels deeply in love with him. After Saif’s earlier marriage to actress Amrita Singh ended, he later settled down with Kareena, and their marriage has often been seen as one of the most stable partnerships in the industry. However, the actor’s recent remarks show that even the most admired couples can hold different perspectives.
Saif Ali Khan Says Box Office Power Determines Earnings
Discussing the subject, Saif Ali Khan explained that the Bollywood payment structure is largely influenced by a star’s ability to attract audiences. According to him, the industry does not intentionally calculate salaries based on gender. Instead, producers evaluate how strongly an actor can pull crowds to theatres and how much revenue their presence is likely to generate.
Kareena Kapoor, who has spent over two decades in the industry and worked alongside major stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, has previously said that she has rarely been offered the same pay as her male counterparts. Reports from earlier in her career also suggested that she once demanded a fee equal to Shah Rukh Khan for a film project in the early 2000s. The demand allegedly cost her the role and created tension with filmmaker Karan Johar.
Saif, however, offered a more pragmatic explanation. He noted that the economics of cinema work much like any other business. The performers who can consistently fill theatres and keep audiences engaged tend to command the highest salaries. From his perspective, producers simply reward those who have proven commercial value.
He further added that payment differences should not be interpreted as gender discrimination but as the outcome of an economic balance within the industry. According to Saif, filmmakers clearly recognize which stars drive ticket sales, and their compensation is decided accordingly.
While the debate over equal pay in Bollywood continues, the differing opinions from Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan highlight how complex the conversation around celebrity earnings and box office power can be.
