Deepika Padukone, a prominent figure in Bollywood, has recently shared her thoughts on the film industry’s operational structure and her personal work preferences. The actress, who has been in the spotlight due to her recent film exits, has now addressed the speculation surrounding her demands for an 8-hour workday, particularly in light of her new motherhood.
In a conversation with CNBC-TV18, Padukone highlighted the perceived disorganization within the Indian film industry and expressed a desire for a more structured system. She pointed out a double standard, stating, “By virtue of being a woman if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working for 8 hours for years and it’s never made headlines.” She further elaborated, “I don’t want to take names now… but it’s very commonly, publicly known about a lot of male actors who have been working for 8 hours for years. A lot of them work only Monday to Friday, they do not work on weekends.”
Padukone emphasized that her request for specific working hours is not new to her and that she has navigated such situations at various career stages, including in relation to her pay. She described her approach to challenges as fighting her battles silently and with dignity.
Despite recent project departures, including Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Deepika Padukone continues to have exciting projects in her pipeline. She is set to star alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan in King and has another film lined up with directors Atlee and Allu Arjun.