In an industry that thrives on glamour and larger-than-life personalities, small everyday practices often go unnoticed. The common practices that people assume to be ordinary provide insights into power systems, social status, and organizational structure. Veteran actor Govind Namdev has now sparked an important conversation by speaking openly about inequality on Bollywood film sets.
Behind the Glamour: A Reality Few Talk About
In a candid conversation recently with The Lallantop, the actor explained that wage disparities between actors show that film sets maintain their status discrimination system. He explained that the stars receive better dining options, while supporting actors and crew members receive standard meals. He explained that the hierarchy influences everything from vanity vans to daily meals, reflecting a deeply ingrained culture where status determines privileges. What may appear as standard protocol is, in fact, a visible marker of power dynamics operating behind the scenes.
A Hierarchy That Goes Beyond Salaries
Namdev claims that film set inequality exists beyond payment discrepancies. He disclosed that major movie stars receive better food options than what supporting actors and crew staff get. He showed that the status hierarchy controls all aspects of their operations, from their vanity vans to their daily meal schedule, which establishes a system that uses social standing to grant access to special privileges. The standard setup functions as a public demonstration of the underlying power relationships that exist between different groups in the industry.
More Than Just Food: The Culture of Stardom
Namdev also explained how professional relationships become affected by hierarchical structures. His 25 years of experience showed him that top actors avoid asking character actors for guidance because they believe it will damage their public image. The existing boundaries create hidden restrictions within the production process, which maintain the belief that people with higher status determine how others will interact with them.
Akshay Kumar’s Equal Treatment on Set
Namdev described his time working on the movie Oh My God, through which he recognized Akshay Kumar and director Umesh Shukla for their practice of treating all people equally. He shared that unless someone had specific dietary needs, the entire cast and crew received the same food. The establishment made no special accommodations for people who held higher social standing. Namdev stated that this method established a positive work environment in which people from different backgrounds could work together with respect for one another.
Why This Conversation Truly Matters
What may seem like a normal production protocol can carry significant meaning. The film industry uses food for its sets to provide both basic sustenance and to show respect and recognition to its cast and crew. People in the organization experience divided treatment, which creates visible rifts that lead to hidden effects on their mental state. Namdev explains that routine activities from the present day create the complete atmosphere that defines work environments. The entertainment industry uses teamwork as its foundation, while basic rights between all employees create an essential principle that protects their fundamental rights. The appearance of normality in a situation actually reveals hidden truths that show how people treat others and what ethical principles an industry selects to follow.
A Larger Reflection on Industry Change
The film industry needs to examine its internal operations because these discussions carry vital importance. The film industry has maintained hierarchical structures as a fundamental aspect of its operations, but current demands for fairness and inclusion have begun to challenge these traditional practices. The presence of powerful actors who endorse equality through basic yet effective actions will bring about progressive changes to workplace behavior in all areas of production. Namdev’s open speech about food establishes a framework for Bollywood to develop new methods of treating people with dignity and fairness throughout their filmmaking methods.
