What did director Hansal Mehta say about the Indian film industry's work culture?

Hansal Mehta highlighted the industry's reliance on exhausting 12-hour "shifts", which have become the norm, and emphasized that daily wage workers bear the brunt of these demanding schedules.

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Bollywood Battles Burnout: Industry Urged to Prioritize Worker Well-Being

Q: How did Deepika Padukone previously challenge the industry's practices?

Deepika Padukone called out the double standards within the industry, noting that while many male superstars have been working 8-hour days for years, it has rarely made headlines when women in the industry push for more reasonable hours.

Q: What did Mehta suggest the industry should do to address the issue?

Mehta argued that prioritizing the well-being of workers, especially those at the base of the industry's pyramid, would not only improve their quality of life but also lead to better work and even increased profitability.

10 Oct

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Summary

Director Hansal Mehta highlights industry's exhausting 12-hour "shifts"
Daily wage workers bear the brunt, arriving first and leaving last
Deepika Padukone previously challenged double standards for male superstars

Bollywood Battles Burnout: Industry Urged to Prioritize Worker Well-Being

As of October 10th, 2025, the Indian film industry is facing renewed scrutiny over its exhausting work culture. In a lengthy social media post, acclaimed director Hansal Mehta has highlighted the industry's reliance on long, draining workdays, where a 12-hour "shift" is considered standard.

Mehta stressed that the hardest hit by this demanding schedule are the daily wage workers, who are often the first to arrive on set and the last to leave, enduring harsh conditions. He emphasized that this pattern has become normalized, with weekends and breaks being viewed as privileges rather than necessities.

This comes just months after actor Deepika Padukone, in a previous interview, called out the double standards within the industry. Padukone noted that while many male superstars have been working 8-hour days for years, it has rarely made headlines when women in the industry push for more reasonable hours.

Mehta's post has reignited the conversation around the need for better working conditions and adequate rest for those in the film industry. He argued that prioritizing the well-being of workers, especially those at the base of the industry's pyramid, would not only improve their quality of life but also lead to better work and even increased profitability.

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