India, May 11 -- Maine Pyar Kiya emerged as the biggest Bollywood blockbuster of 1989, starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree in the lead roles. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film marked Bhagyashree's acting debut and became a defining moment in her career. For Salman, it was only his second film after the 1988 release Biwi Ho To Aisi, but the movie catapulted him to stardom and established him as one of Bollywood's most promising young actors.

However, in a surprising contrast to the long-standing gender pay gap in the entertainment industry - where male actors are often paid more than their female counterparts - Maine Pyar Kiya saw an unusual reversal. According to reports, Bhagyashree was paid significantly more than Salman for the f...