As discussions around Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for an eight-hour workday continue within the film industry, actress Rani Mukerji has offered her perspective, drawing from her own experiences of balancing a career with motherhood.
Rani Recalls Her Schedule When Adira Was a Toddler
Speaking to ANI, Rani reminisced about the filming of her 2018 movie ‘Hichki,’ which coincided with her daughter Adira being just 14 months old. She shared, “When I did Hichki, Adira was 14 months old, and I was still breastfeeding her. I had to pump the milk and leave early in the morning to shoot at a college in town. From my home in Juhu to the shoot location, it would take almost two hours due to traffic. So I’d leave by 6:30 a.m. after expressing milk. My first shot was at 8 a.m., and I’d wrap up by 12:30 or 1 p.m. My team and director were very organised. I’d reach home by 3 p.m., before the traffic worsened. That’s how I completed the film.”
Mukerji emphasized that conversations about flexible working hours in cinema are not new; they are simply gaining more visibility as they are being openly discussed. She also pointed out the double standards women face in the industry, noting that female actors often need to pause or adjust their careers after becoming mothers, a challenge male counterparts rarely encounter.
Rani Talks About Juggling Work with Motherhood
“These things have always existed. It’s just that now people are openly talking about it. In any profession, if the producer agrees to shorter hours, you go ahead with the project. If not, you opt out. It’s a mutual choice; nothing is forced,” Rani explained. She added, “Men don’t have to go through a physical transformation. Women, on the other hand, go through both physical and emotional changes after becoming mothers. But I’m very happy being a woman.”
Rani Mukerji was recently honored with the Best Actress award at the 71st National Film Awards for her powerful performance in ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs. Norway.’ The film, based on the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, depicts a mother’s emotional and legal fight to regain custody of her children from the Norwegian foster care system.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone is currently occupied with the shooting of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King,’ which also features Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Arshad Warsi.