Deepika opens up on Kalki exit row, says 'male stars work 8-hours' without pushback

Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has finally broken her silence on the eight-hour workday shift, a stance that allegedly led to her exit from two major film projects: Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit and the sequel to Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD. Addressing the issue, the actor pointed out the gender disparity in the industry, noting that "male superstars" have maintained eight-hour schedules for years without any pushback or media sensationalism.

She asserted that if her choice, by virtue of being a woman, is perceived as being "pushy," then she accepts that label. She then highlighted a clear double standard, stating, "It is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for eight hours for years, and it's never made headlines."

Deepika further elaborated on the prevalent practice among her male counterparts. Without naming names, she mentioned that it is "very commonly, publicly known that a lot of male actors have been working for eight hours a day for years," and that many even limit their work to Monday to Friday, refusing to work on weekends. Her statement frames her demand not as a personal preference but as an attempt to normalize a standard practice already utilized by powerful male figures in Bollywood.

The production house Vyjayanthi Movies announced her departure from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, citing a need for a higher level of "commitment" that her schedule could not accommodate. These consecutive exits brought the debate over standardizing working hours in the Indian film industry to the forefront.

Deepika criticized the unprofessionalism prevalent in the movie business, noting that while the Indian film industry is "termed as an industry, we have never really worked like an industry." She concluded that it remains a "very disorganised industry" and believes it is crucial to "bring in some system into this culture" to establish professionalism and work-life balance for all artists.