Gender biases and the perceived notions of what is considered ‘normal’ in the entertainment industry have recently been questioned by those who are part of it, and others who are affected by it. Not that the sanctimonious beliefs have affected, but the communication helped fill the gap of voicing out concerns in the open. However, Shefali Shah highlighted that the treatment on the sets transcends just the male-female bias – it’s about who’s the “star.”
Shefali Shah claims ‘star’ treatment shines brighter than gender bias
The ‘Delhi Crime’ actress had expressed that the star asking for the most obnoxious demand might get the result as their birthright, but for someone who is not, asking for the basic rights might not be entertained. In an interview with journalist Faye D’Souza, Shah highlighted how the gaps between the people on the film set are based on hierarchy rather than gender. When the host asked for an example, the 52-year-old said, “asking for a 45-minute or 1-hour lunch break over 3 hours of nap time.”After being stunned by the response, the journalist questioned whether everybody else waits. “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,” she said, adding that she still gets her time to eat food, but not the spotboys and lightboys who travelled a long journey. “If you go to see, all these people are working for food when it comes to it. What is that money for? To be able to feed themselves, their family, home, whatever,” the ‘Monsoon Wedding’ actress spoke. Moreover, she noted that some days might be chaotic on every other set, “but every day?”While the industry works according to the shifts, the independent films that differ from proper studios have budget restrictions. The positive side is that the director’s voice gets a platform, unlike the business deals that control the scripts, but the financial downside comes along with it.
