Deepika Padukone's name is being used for ‘publicity’; Kajol, Rani Mukerji worked 8-hour shifts long ago, reveals director Siddharth P Malhotra

As the film industry talks more about fair working hours and work-life balance, filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra has shared his thoughts on the matter. He believes the demand for shorter shifts is not new and says actresses like Kajol and Rani Mukerji had already been working that way years ago.

Recently, Deepika Padukone made headlines for reportedly stepping away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming Telugu film ‘Spirit’. One of the reasons was reportedly said to be her request for an eight-hour workday. Deepika became a mother eight months ago and now wants more time with her family.

But according to Malhotra, this kind of request has been around for a long time — and Deepika is not asking for anything unusual.
‘We finished Hichki in 28 eight-hour shifts’

Siddharth P Malhotra, who directed ‘Maharaj’ starring Junaid Khan last year, spoke about his earlier film ‘Hichki’, which starred Rani Mukerji. He said the entire film was shot in just 28 eight-hour days.

“We finished Hichki, the whole film, in 28 eight-hour shifts. Whether it was Rani (Mukerji), the kids, the cameramen or the spot boy, everyone finished in that time,” he told IANS. ‘Hichki’, was Rani’s first film after she gave birth to daughter Adira Chopra in December 2015


‘Kajol used to do eight-hour shifts back in 2010’

Malhotra also recalled his 2010 film ‘We Are Family’, which starred Kajol. He said she made her preferred working hours very clear right from the start.

“When I’d shot with Kajol in 2010, she used to do eight-hour shifts. She made it very clear she’d either come for 10 am to 6 pm or 7 am to 2 pm or for an eight-hour shift at night. Rani also did the same. Deepika isn’t demanding anything new,” he said.
‘People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone’

Siddharth P Malhotra believes the attention Deepika Padukone is receiving is unnecessary and unfair. He said there is nothing wrong with asking for time with family, especially if the actor is clear from the beginning.

“If I need an actor and am confident I can finish the film within those working hours, I’d work with them even for six hours a day. This isn’t actor-specific. People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone. She’s asking for family time, what wrong is she demanding?” He added that if the working conditions do not match the filmmaker’s vision, they are free to choose someone else.

Deepika was last seen in the action-thriller Fighter, released in 2024. She played the role of an Indian Air Force officer alongside Hrithik Roshan. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film focused on patriotism, aerial combat, and high-octane action.