‘Endless commute, broken sleep...': Hansal Mehta condemns industry’s long shifts following Deepika Padukone’s work-life balance stand

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has expressed criticism of the industry's work culture, noting that although a 12-hour day is called a 'shift,' personal life suffers due to chaotic shoots, lengthy commutes, rushed meals, and only a few hours of broken sleep. The industry's widespread discussion on work-life balance was sparked by Deepika Padukone’s demand for an 8-hour workday after becoming a mother.

Hansal Mehta raises concerns on mental and physical well-being.



On October 10, Hansal shared his thoughts on X (previously Twitter), questioning the place of mental and physical well-being in the industry. He pointed out, "Where does our mental health or physical well-being fit into this equation? Weekends are rarely weekends. Breaks are looked down upon. Somewhere along the way, exhaustion became normalized, and rest became a privilege. Sometimes I wonder: can this really be called an industry if it runs on the relentless draining of its people?"



Highlighting challenges faced by daily wagers

He further added, “The hardest hit are those who have the least power—the daily wagers. They are always the first to arrive and the last to leave, surviving in conditions we’d call inhuman anywhere else. On television it’s worse, and now even OTT and films have slipped into the same pattern. We often celebrate the arrival of global corporations, believing they’ll bring better systems. But more often than not they simply adapt to the broken ones we already have. Because it’s profitable. I truly believe that if we cared about well-being, ours and especially those who hold up the base of this pyramid, we’d not only work better but also live better. The irony is that quality, efficiency, and even profit would follow. But first, we need to stop scoffing at the simple idea of rest. Because without that, what are we really building?”

Deepika Padukone’s current projects

On the work front, Deepika Padukone is now shooting for ',' which also stars Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles. She also has Atlee's upcoming film 'AA22xA6' with Allu Arjun as the protagonist.