Kitu Gidwani calls Bollywood ‘fake industry’, slams its vague rules: ‘I should have been able to live off royalties’
Kitu Gidwani Calls Bollywood Fake Industry Over Royalty Rules
Bharatmorningnews.com – Veteran actress Kitu Gidwani has once again sparked conversation by questioning the authenticity of India's largest entertainment sector. With a career spanning more than four decades, the performer has appeared in numerous films and television shows that have become cultural touchstones for audiences across the country. Her recent comments about the industry's structure and compensation practices have resonated with many professionals who share similar frustrations.
Known for her work in acclaimed films like Fashion, Dhobi Ghat, and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Kitu has also left an indelible mark on television through series such as Shaktimaan and Swabhimaan. Her observations about the Hindi film industry's operational model highlight systemic issues that have persisted for generations.
Understanding the Industry's Vague Framework
In a candid interview with Screen magazine, Kitu articulated her concerns about how Bollywood operates compared to international entertainment hubs. She described the sector as fundamentally different from what audiences might expect from a mature industry.
Bollywood is not a real industry; it's a cottage industry. It's a fake industry; it goes by its own vague rules. There is nothing like Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild in India. I should have been able to work for 10 years and then live off my royalties for the next ten years, not slog for 40 years. Intellectual property rights and creative rights are zero in India.
Her comparison to Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild underscores the lack of organized representation for Indian performers. While actors in Western markets benefit from collective bargaining agreements that guarantee residual payments, Indian talent typically receives one-time compensation regardless of how often their work is reused or redistributed.
Representation Gaps for Mature Performers
The actress also highlighted how organizational structures in Hollywood provide comprehensive support for various creative professionals. Organizations like SAG-AFTRA represent actors, while the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Directors Guild of America (DGA) advocate for their respective members. These bodies have successfully negotiated terms that ensure ongoing earnings when content is syndicated or licensed.
Kitu expressed particular frustration regarding opportunities available to older women in the industry:
It's not like that anywhere in the world. My grouse against the industry is that older women are not getting powerful roles. We don't want to play the generic mother or maasi. We want to play good, enduring roles with sex, love, power, comedy, and action. In daily soaps, once a woman hits 30, she becomes a daadi. She has no signs of aging on her face, but she gets such roles. This industry is very bizarre.
A Career Built on Diverse Roles
Kitu began her professional journey in 1984 with the film Holi, which featured Aamir Khan, Om Puri, and Ashutosh Gowariker. Her television breakthrough arrived in 1986 through the Doordarshan series Air Hostess. Audiences later embraced her as Svetlana in Swabhimaan, a role that cemented her status as a household name. She subsequently joined Shaktimaan as Geeta Vishwas, a truth-seeking journalist, before leaving after several episodes.
Her cinematic contributions extend beyond television fame. Kitu appeared in Govind Nihalani's Rukhmavati Ki Haveli (1991), Deepa Mehta's Earth (1998), Dance of the Wind (1997), and Kamal Haasan's Abhay and Deham (2001).
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kitu Gidwani say about Bollywood's royalty system?
Kitu Gidwani calls Bollywood fake industry when discussing compensation, noting that she should have been able to live off royalties after working for 10 years rather than continuing to work for 40 years. She emphasized that intellectual property rights and creative rights remain minimal in India compared to international standards.
How does Bollywood's structure compare to Hollywood?
Unlike Hollywood, which has established organizations like the Screen Actors Guild, Bollywood lacks equivalent representation. This means Indian performers receive single payments rather than ongoing royalties when their work is reused or syndicated across platforms.
What roles does Kitu believe older women should receive?
She believes mature female performers should move beyond generic mother or maasi characters and embrace roles featuring sex, love, power, comedy, and action. She criticized how women in daily soaps are cast as grandmothers despite showing no visible signs of aging.
When did Kitu Gidwani start her career?
Kitu launched her professional career in 1984 through the movie Holi, which also starred Aamir Khan and Om Puri. Her television breakthrough came with the Doordarshan series Air Hostess in 1986.