Media & Communications

---

Chief Executive Officer Jason Zangara, MPH, MA, FF/NREMT, AIFireE recognized for 20 years of Service.

Manville, NJ, USA -June 16, 2025 - Our Chief Executive Officer, Jason Zangara, MPH, MA, FF/NREMT, AIFireE has been recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for achieving 20 years of consecutive of National EMS certification. This distinction is an honor held by few EMS professionals. 

To maintain Jason's status as a Nationally Registered EMT, he has completed on a biannual basis, the most comprehensive recertification program for EMS professionals in America. In addition to this, he has successfully challenged the National Registry EMT exam multiple times over his tenure to prove his knowledge and dedication to EMS. This in conjunction with completing regular continuing education courses has demonstrated his commitment to providing exceptional prehospital emergency medical care. 

Jason was Nationally Registered as an EMT in 2005 and has maintained certification ever since. He has served the community on the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad as  Chief Chief and the Manville Fire Department as Firefighter/EMT prior to returning to academics & beginning consulting. 

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians serves as the National EMS Certification organization by providing a valid, uniform process to asses the knowledge and skills required for competent practice by EMS professionals throughout their careers and by maintaining a registry of certification status. 

Contact:

Fire & Emergency Services Consultants

Att: Public Information Officer

Email: fes_consultants@yahoo.com

Manville, NJ 08835, USA 

*********************************************************************************

New Study Exposes Systemic Gender, Skin Tone, and Pay Disparities in Indian Cinema (2010–2025): A Public Health Crisis

Manville, NJ, USA – May 15, 2025 – A groundbreaking special interest study by Public Safety & Health Expert Jason Zangara, MPH, MA, FF/NREMT, AIFireE, Chief Executive Officer of Fire & Emergency Services Consultants, reveals stark inequities in Indian cinema, highlighting a 96.8% male lead dominance, 99.6% fair-skinned casting, and an 85–90% pay gap across 250 films from 2010–2025. Published today, the study frames these disparities as a public health crisis, with profound impacts on mental health, economic equity, and social norms for India’s 1.4 billion people.

Key Findings from the 250-Film Analysis:

1. Gender Bias: 96.8% of lead roles (242/250 films) are male, with only 3.2% female-led films (e.g., Piku, Gangubai Kathiawadi). Telugu and Malayalam industries have 0% female leads, Tamil 2%, and Bollywood 8%.
2. Skin Tone Bias: 99.6% of leads (249/250) are fair-skinned, with only one darker-skinned lead (Manjhi, 2015). Casting calls, such as for Leo (2023), demand “fair, tall” actors, reinforcing colorism.
3. Pay Disparities: Male actors earn ₹30–40 crore on average (up to ₹150 crore, e.g., Shah Rukh Khan, Jawan), while female actors earn ₹3–5 crore (up to ₹20 crore, e.g., Deepika Padukone, Pathaan), resulting in an 85–90% pay gap. For example, in Tiger 3 (2023), Salman Khan earned ₹100–130 crore, while Katrina Kaif earned ₹10–15 crore.
4. Economic Impact: The pay gap translates to ₹6,250–8,750 crore in lost earnings for female actors across 250 films, limiting women’s financial independence.
5. Mental Health Toll: Biased representation may affect 70 million Indian women (10% of 700 million), contributing to self-esteem issues, per the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (2018).
6. Production Company Role: Major studios like T-Series (17 films), Yash Raj Films (11), Mythri Movie Makers (7), and Lyca Productions (8) drive these trends, prioritizing male-led, fair-skinned projects with male pay often exceeding ₹50 crore.
7. Public Health Implications: Indian cinema, a $2.5 billion industry shaping cultural narratives, amplifies gender and colorism biases, risking mental health challenges for millions and perpetuating economic inequity. Biased casting also threatens 5–10% box-office losses (₹50–100 crore/film), as diverse representation, seen in RRR’s global success, boosts competitiveness. Actresses like Kangana Ranaut, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra have criticized these disparities, calling for urgent reform.

The study recommends:

• Transparent pay policies and diverse casting incentives.
• Public health campaigns to combat colorism and gender bias.
• Annual diversity scorecards for studios to drive accountability.

About the Study:

Directed by Jason Zangara with data aggregation assistance from Grok (xAI), the study analyzes 250 films across Bollywood (100), Telugu (75), Tamil (50), and Malayalam (25) industries, using sources like IMDb, Forbes India, and X posts. Full findings, including detailed casting and pay data, are available in Attachments A–C.

Contact:

Jason Zangara, MPH, MA, FF/NREMT, AIFireE

Chief Executive Officer, Fire & Emergency Services Consultants

Phone: +1 (908) 672-0262

Email: fes_consultants@yahoo.com

Manville, NJ 08835, USA 

Full Study with Attachments: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hDpYdhVTnEGbyc2YhnLLNfXXxc9rwTDb/view?usp=sharing

Press Release:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oom0UYRRolo-0-stTZ0zw8jarhxjh-B6/view?usp=sharing