Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand sparks Bollywood debate; Rana Daggubati says 'It’s not a factory'

Deepika Padukone’s request to limit her working hours to eight a day has stirred significant debate in the film world, especially after she was dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’, which stars Prabhas. Even though the news of the new mother opting out of the project broke months ago, it remains a hot topic among industry insiders whenever discussions take place between actors, producers, and directors.

Rana Daggubati: Filmmaking is not a factory

Telugu actor-producer Rana Daggubati recently shared his perspective at The Hollywood Reporter India roundtable, emphasizing that filmmaking isn’t a factory process. In contrast, Madhuri Dixit expressed a different viewpoint in an interview with ANI. When questioned about the push for eight-hour work shifts, Rana clarified that choosing to commit to such schedules is voluntary. He stated, “Like you either choose to be in it or not. It's not a factory. It's not like we sit for 8 hours, the best scene is going to come out. We could sit for 50 and nothing might come out too”.

Deepika Padukone's exit from ‘Kalki’ sequel spurs industry debate on work hours

Deepika Padukone, who became a mother in September 2024, exited the ‘Kalki’ sequel after the makers did not agree to her request for an eight-hour workweek. Despite playing a key role in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ alongside Prabhas, she was dropped from the sequel amid discussions about her commitments. Rana Daggubati, who also starred with Prabhas in the ‘Baahubali’ films, is part of this narrative in the industry. This situation has fueled debates across film circles, with some supporting Deepika's demand for more reasonable working hours, while others disagree with it. The production house officially announced they had parted ways with Deepika due to an inability to find the right partnership and commitment needed for such a large-scale project.

Madhuri Dixit defends individual choice amid 8-hour shift debate

Madhuri recently shared her thoughts on Deepika’s demand for an eight-hour work shift. Describing herself as a “workaholic,” Madhuri revealed that she worked 12-hour shifts while filming her upcoming series ‘Mrs Deshpande’, streaming on JioHotstar and OTTplay Premium. However, during an ANI interview, she emphasized that each woman should have the freedom to decide her own working hours, stating, “..Then that's her prerogative, and that's her life, and that's how she wants to do it...Then more power to her."





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