Actress Kitu Gidwani criticises Bollywood, calling it a “fake” industry, and highlights what she says are gaps in how actors are paid and credited. She points to the lack of clear royalty mechanisms for performers and argues that Bollywood does not provide intellectual property rights in the way she associates with Hollywood’s systems.
Gidwani also raises concerns about age-based casting practices. She says older women are often pushed into limited, stereotypical roles—such as playing mothers (including “daadis” and “maasi”)—once they reach their thirties, rather than being offered strong, leading parts. Across the outlets, the thrust of her criticism is consistent: she links the industry’s business and rights structure to what she describes as constrained opportunities for senior actresses.
The reports draw from the same remarks, with emphasis primarily on two themes: royalties and intellectual property protections for actors, and ageism in casting. None of the sources present counterarguments or new policy responses from studios or industry bodies.
