When Asif Ali said, “Pay disparity has nothing to do with discrimination and is purely business”

The discussion around gender pay disparity in the film industry has been a long-standing debate.

Back in 2018, Malayalam actor Asif Ali shared his views on the subject in an interview with Cinema Express. Addressing the topic, Asif Ali had stated, “Pay disparity has nothing to do with discrimination and is purely business. If I and Nayanthara act together, I am sure she will be paid more. It depends on how the film is getting marketed, just like Manju Chechi's (Manju Warrier) film gets marketed in her name.”
His remarks suggested that the earnings of actors are determined by their market value rather than any form of gender-based discrimination.

Meanwhile, Asif Ali has recently been enjoying a strong career comeback. After a series of underwhelming films, he made a grand comeback with multiple hits, cementing his position in the industry. His latest release, Rekhachithram, emerged as a major success, standing out as the only profitable venture in January 2025.
At a recent public event, Asif Ali expressed his happiness over this achievement, saying, “When they say that out of all the films released in January 2025, Rekhachithram was the only successful venture, I must admit that it’s a moment I was dreaming of. I am smiling with pride.”
Asif Ali’s ‘Rekhachithram’ received 3.5 stars out of 5 from ETimes and our official review reads, “The second half is where the film takes the audience on a nostalgic ride. There is plenty of creative liberty taken by the writer, bringing in Kaathodu Kathoram elements into the film, creating an alternate history in a sense. As much as seeing a young Mammootty on screen is appreciated, a little less fanboyism would have helped to stick to the levity of the plot. The recreation of the sets in the 80s was done well. Interlinking the story with instances from old films has worked, too.”