Rs 10,000 Salary for House-Helps: Mini Mathur, Kirti Kulhari Spark National Debate

Mini Mathur slammed Kirti Kulhari's recent statements about paying a domestic servant Rs 10,000 for two hours of daily work. The video has sparked discussion over domestic help pay, living costs, and expectations in Mumbai.

Actor Mini Mathur has slammed fellow actor Kirti Kulhari after an old interview tape of Kulhari discussing the salary for a domestic assistant surfaced online, sparking a social media discussion.

In a viral video from an old interview, Kirti discusses moving to a new home on Mumbai's Yari Road and being astonished by the cost charged for a domestic helper quoted for household duties. As the video reappeared, Mathur and numerous Instagram users reacted to the statement. While some participants stated that rising housing prices in metro areas were tough to handle, others felt the notion seemed out of touch, particularly in a place like Mumbai.

Mini Mathur commented on a post including the old film, saying, "Think of how much her two hours allow us to make in two hours. "This is less than the minimum wage anywhere else in the world."

One Instagram user said, "I empathise with her priorities but this does sound rather out of touch with any Mumbaikars lived reality. 10k is basic and ought to be paid with gratitude and respect (sic)."

Another commented, "Even if she does 5 houses, that’s 50k per month for 10 hours of work. In a city like Mumbai living a dignified life she would need at least 50k. Don’t think it’s an unfair ask."

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Kirti revealed, "I was also discussing this with my manager." Abhi maine naya ghar shift kiya hai, Yaari Road mein, and... the prices we obtained from the cook and maid made me wonder, 'How do these rates make sense?' (I was also debating this with my boss. I just moved into a new property on Yaari Road, and the fees stated by the cook and maid made me wonder, 'How can these charges even make sense?')"

When questioned by the interviewer what she was being charged for, Kirti answered, "I don't know, like, for two hours of labour, which is jhadu, pocha, bartan. I wanted to complete all household chores within two hours of work, including dusting, mopping, and doing dishes.She charged me Rs 10,000. I was like, "Tum do ghante aa rahi ho, tum apne hisaab se jitna kaam hota hai kar rahi ho... and then you charge me Rs 10,000 for what?" At that moment, we were like, "Kya humaari shakal dekh ke aisa ho raha hai ki, inke paas toh honge, thoda sa aur maang hi lete hain." At that moment, we were wondering, 'Are they staring at us and presuming we must have money, so they may as well ask for more?'," Kirti explained.

The topic has now sparked a bigger online discussion about domestic employment, fair compensation, and the economics of living in major cities such as Mumbai. While some users appreciated Kirti's amazement at the expenses, others countered that domestic staff are frequently underpaid, despite allowing working professionals to handle tight schedules.