Jammu, May 8 -- Veteran Actress Calls for Gender Pay Parity in Bollywood

Legendary actress Shabana Azmi, who is celebrating 50 years in the film industry this year, believes the tide is turning for women in commercial cinema. In a recent interview, she remarked that varied and impactful roles are increasingly being written for female stars across all ages.

Azmi credits rising talents like Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone for headlining prominent parts in major productions. She noted that just a decade ago, such substantial roles in mainstream movies were almost unthinkable for women. However, today's leading ladies are fronting important storylines for popular franchises.

The 73-year-old veteran praised Bhatt and Padukone for advocating...