# Kitu Gidwani calls Bollywood a fake industry, slams lack of royalties 2026-08-14T07:57:44+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Veteran actor Kitu Gidwani, who has worked in films and television for four decades, has called Bollywood a “fake industry” that operates on “vague rules”. In an interview with Screen, she criticised the lack of royalty payments for actors, saying: “I should have been able to work for 10 years and then live off my royalties for the next ten years, not slog for 40 years.” Gidwani added that intellectual property rights for artistes are “zero in India”, unlike in Hollywood where unions like SAG-AFTRA ensure residual payments. She also took aim at the limited roles offered to older women. “Once a woman hits 30, she becomes a daadi,” Gidwani said, calling for parts that include “sex, love, power, comedy, and action”. The actor, known for roles in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and the TV show Shaktimaan, contrasted India’s system with the West, where unions negotiate residuals for reruns and streaming. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: actors' rights, ageism, Bollywood, Indian film industry, Kitu Gidwani, royalties Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kitu-gidwani-calls-bollywood-fake-industry-criticises-royalty-system/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kitu-gidwani-calls-bollywood-fake-industry-criticises-royalty-system/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.