'We Must Fight For Our Share': Plabita Borthakur Exposes Industry Pay Bias Ahead of 'Doosra'
Ahead of the theatrical release of her upcoming social sports drama Doosra on October 23, 2026, actress Plabita Borthakur has offered a candid critique of the entrenched gender divide within the Indian entertainment ecosystem, asserting that female performers are still compelled to actively demand entitlements that male counterparts receive by default. In the film, Borthakur portrays a young woman confronting domestic patriarchy who discovers renewed personal resolve after watching former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly’s defiance during a televised international cricket match. Drawing parallels between her on-screen character's journey and her own career experiences, the actress revealed that while her family environment remained progressive, the entertainment and commercial advertising landscape routinely subjected female artists to systemic financial disparities, beginning right from commercial brand campaigns where male models consistently commanded higher remuneration than their female peers.
Unequal Pay and Vanity Van Disparities: Inside the Commercial Industry's Double Standards
Addressing the broader dynamics of mainstream filmmaking, Borthakur noted that institutional discrepancies become far more pronounced once actors transition from commercial sets to feature films, where women are tacitly expected to be significantly more accommodating. In standard multi-lead productions, male co-stars are routinely allocated superior logistics, expanded personal budgets, and premium vanity vans without negotiation, whereas female actors are often forced to initiate difficult conversations through their talent managers simply to secure comparable professional amenities. The actress emphasized that true equality within cinema requires dismantling these unwritten hierarchies, advocating for structural pay parity across the board so that remuneration and on-set resources reflect an artist's professional contribution rather than obsolete industry traditions favoring male leads.
Cultural Conditioning, Domestic Equality, and Real-Life Heroes Over Reel Icons
Expanding on her understanding of modern feminism, Borthakur underscored that parity on screen cannot be divorced from domestic reform, pointing out that financial responsibility and basic household chores must be shared equally rather than relegated along gender lines. She contrasted the freedom granted by her parents with the subtle societal restrictions imposed on women, citing how her elder sister working across Mumbai and Assamese film industries was often expected to adhere strictly to traditional Assamese attire at public appearances, while male artists faced no dress code scrutiny whatsoever. Reflecting on where she draws her inner strength, Borthakur clarified that she never had to search for role models among celluloid icons; instead, she credits her parents for instilling enduring principles of self-reliance, tireless work ethic, and non-judgmental empathy that continue to guide her journey through the Hindi film fraternity.
