Tejasswi Prakash Reveals She’s Never Faced Pay Disparity In TV Industry; Shares, “I’ve Been Paid Better Than My Male Co Stars”

Tejasswi Prakash opens up on pay parity, revealing she was never underpaid and prioritises strong roles over big projects.

Tejasswi Prakash Opens Up On Pay Disparity In Industry

Gender-based pay gaps continue to exist in the film industry, where female actors are often paid significantly less than their male counterparts, sometimes earning only a fraction of what men do. However, the scenario appears somewhat different on Indian television, possibly because many shows revolve around women-centric narratives. Reports suggest that some of the highest-paid stars in the TV industry today are women.

While Rupali Ganguly is said to command the highest fee in fiction programming, Tejasswi Prakash reportedly dominates the non-fiction space. She is believed to be among the top-paid contestants on shows like Celebrity MasterChef India and Bigg Boss across seasons. In an interaction with News18, the actress shared that she has personally not experienced pay discrimination.

Revealing a surprising narrative on pay disparity, Tejasswi shared, “I’ve not faced pay disparity. Mere saath nahi hua. If I felt I was being paid less than my male co-actors just because I’m a woman, I would voice it out. But I don’t think I was ever underpaid due to my gender. There are so many shows where I’m being paid better than my male counterparts. To be honest, in almost all of my projects, I’ve been paid more than them.”

Tejasswi Believes Pay Gaps Are Based On Seniority Rather Than Gender

She further clarified that pay differences do arise when working alongside more experienced actors, but believes that such gaps are based on seniority rather than gender. “I can’t compare my pay with someone who’s super senior to me. That would be silly.” Tejasswi continued, “If a male actor has done a lot of work over the years, he’ll surely be paid more. But that’s because of seniority and not because they’re men.”

The Swaragini actress also revealed that she has often prioritised strong roles over lucrative offers, choosing substance over money. She explained that she does not take up projects merely for visibility or commercial appeal. Tejasswi shared, “I want meaty roles, but the scripts that are offered to me don’t have a strong female role, largely. And that’s why I’ve said no many times.”

She further added, “A great title with some great actors, directors, production houses and platforms attached to it are great on your resume but they don’t let you do a lot in them. But when it finally releases, I don’t want my viewers to say that I’m hardly doing anything in it. A lot of times, they want you in it for the views. But I don’t want that. I don’t want to be used like that.”

Although she acknowledges the expectations her audience has from her, especially wanting to see her in more projects, the actress maintains that she is selective about her choices. Clarifying, she adds, “There aren’t too many great projects offered to me. I’m also very choosy about what I do. I once said no to a very big film. But I don’t regret it. It was tough to say no, and I don’t know if I did the right thing by turning it down.”

Tejasswi’s Work Front

On the work front, Tejasswi Prakash has established herself as one of the most popular faces on Indian television. She gained widespread recognition with shows like Swaragini and went on to become a household name after winning Bigg Boss 15. Her portrayal of the lead in Naagin 6 further cemented her position as a top TV star.

Moreover, Tejasswi made her debut with Psycho Saiyaan alongside Ravi Kishan, further showcasing her versatility across formats. In the series, Tejasswi plays Charu, a mysterious woman caught in an intense and dangerous love story, with her performance praised for bringing a layered, manipulative, and compelling edge to the character.

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Sonali Singh

Sonali Singh watches films like it’s a job (and honestly, it kind of is). Currently pursuing her Master’s in Communication and Journalism, she lives somewhere between deadlines and movie scenes. If it’s Bollywood, she’s already invested—films, drama, and all the gossip included. When she’s not writing, she’s either dancing her heart out like no one’s watching or trying to mimic people, proving that not all talents are meant to be discovered.