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.