Deepika Padukone's 8-Hour Workday Demand Reignites Industry Debate

In the past week, a debate has reignited in the Hindi film industry over the implementation of an 8-hour workday. The catalyst was Deepika Padukone's reported exit from two upcoming films - 'Spirit' and 'Kalki 2' - after her request for a limited daily work schedule was not accommodated.

Padukone's decision has received support from fellow actress Yami Gautam, who stated that the practice of restricted working hours is not new in Bollywood. Gautam questioned why a female actor's request for an 8-hour workday and 5-day week became a matter of public discussion, noting that such arrangements are often pre-decided between the director, producer, and actor.

The debate has highlighted the complexities involved in establishing standardized time caps in the film industry, where factors like locations, permissions, and coordination with other crew members can make rigid schedules challenging. However, some industry professionals see value in greater consistency to support work-life balance, particularly for women with family responsibilities.

Gautam emphasized that these workday agreements have existed informally for decades, with certain actors shooting only 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and avoiding night shoots. The recent incidents involving Padukone have encouraged other actors to share their own experiences of negotiating working hours in their contracts, shedding light on how gender can influence the reception of such requests by producers and the public.