Yes, I've hiked my price: Aindrita Ray

In an industry where most actors play safe by mouthing lines like ‘I get what I deserve’ when asked about their increasing remuneration packages, Aindrita Ray makes a rare revelation. When questioned if she has hiked her market price, the actor concedes that she has.
Industry goss has it that in spite of being talented, the actor hasn’t been seen on screen as much as she used to be because filmmakers feel she’s quoting mega bucks.Producer K Manju, we hear, is the latest to cite that he couldn’t afford to cast Aindrita. “Yes, it’s true that I have hiked my remuneration. But I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. I’m not demanding crores of rupees. It’s just a matter of paying me a lakh or two more than what I used to be paid earlier. In fact, I’m the only heroine among my contemporaries to be paid a two digit amount (in lakhs). I think I’m well within my right to command that price because I’ve had hit films every year including Junglee, Manasaare, Veera Parampare and Paramatma. And with such blockbusters in my kitty, I don’t think there’s anything wrong if I want to be paid more than what I used to be earlier,” reasons Aindrita.
The actor also points out that the same producers do not think twice about paying heroes several times more than what heroines fetch, in addition to also spending crores on a film. “So it’s appaling that producers haggle over a few lakhs when it comes to paying me. And this in spite of me deciding to stick on to doing only Kannada films even though I was flooded with offers from Telugu and Tamil. I wanted to only do Kannada movies because this is home ground and I wanted to make a name here. Now that I have achieved that, is it wrong to expect a similar growth in my payment?” asks an irked Aindrita.
But isn’t Aindrita worried about scaring producers who want to work with her? Doesn’t she miss having back-to-back releases on the marquee? “This is my decision to not do as many films as before. It’s not because I am not being approached for work. It’s just that I’d rather have one hit film than eight flops. Even the media should cut me some slack and not keep asking why I am sitting idle. This is how I’ve been from the beginning. I like taking a break between work. As an actor, I feel it’s not necessary that you have to be busy 365 days a year,” wraps up Aindrita.
(Contributed by Madhu Daithota)