Jaipur, Rajasthan: Bollywood Actor Madhuri Dixit and producer Guneet Monga on Friday attended a special session hosted by the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) 2025. During the event major issues faced by women in the film industry were discussed.
The Actor- Producer duo highlighted that despite significant progress, pay disparity in the film industry remains a pressing issue. The session titled ‘The Journey of Women in Cinema’, was held in Jaipur as a part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
“Gender Pay Gap”: Madhuri Dixit
Addressing the event, Madhuri Dixit acknowledged the long-standing issue of unequal pay in the film industry, emphasising that women constantly have to prove their worth for equal pay.
While speaking to the IIFA Vice President Noreen Khan, Madhuri Dixit said, “Well, I think for the women, they have to prove themselves time and again and to say that we’re equal, we can draw an audience, we can do that, but we have to prove it every single time. And yes, there is still a disparity…We are still a long way from actually when disparity is not happening, but I think we have a long way to go, and we have to kind of work every day towards that”.
Call for More Opportunities
Joining the fray, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga urged that more opportunities should be given to women in cinema. She also called upon the male actors to address the issue.
“There is a pay gap. I want men and actors to answer such questions. We are already on the receiving end. Create more opportunities for women. Look at Stree 2. If we have more films like these then we’ll get close to that,” Monga stated.
IIFA 2025 Celebrates Bollywood’s Legacy
Meanwhile, the IIFA Awards 2025 marks a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years of Bollywood’s global reach. Traditionally the award function was held in international locations. However, this year’s event is returning to India, with Jaipur hosting the first leg from March 7-9 at the JECC (Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre).
According to reports the three-day gala promises star-studded performances, tributes to Bollywood’s milestones, and engaging discussions on cinema’s evolution. Reportedly, Kartik Aaryan and Karan Johar will host this year’s grand IIFA function.
