Actor Deepika Padukone has finally addressed the controversy around her decision to work an 8-hour day on sets. The debate started after she exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and later the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Deepika highlighted the gender gap in the film industry, pointing out that “male superstars” have been working 8-hour days for years without any headlines or criticism.
Deepika Padukone Talks About Gender Disparity In The Film Industry
Responding to the backlash, she said, “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But 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.”
She added, “I don’t want to take names now and make this into a whole thing, but it is very commonly, publicly known that a lot of male actors have been working for eight hours a day for years. A lot of them only work for eight hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends.”
Deepika Calls The Industry ‘Disorganised’
Deepika also called out the industry’s structure. She described it as “a very disorganised industry” and said that even though it is called an industry, it has never truly functioned like one. She added, “It’s time we brought in some system into this culture,” highlighting the need for fairness and professional standards on film sets.
Her exit from Spirit reportedly happened because her request to limit work hours so she could spend time with her daughter Dua was not met. Shortly after, Vyjayanthi Movies announced that she would no longer be part of the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. The production house said the decision came after careful consideration, adding that a film of this scale requires a higher level of “commitment.”
Deepika Padukone Upcoming Projects
Despite the controversies, Deepika has quickly moved forward. She started shooting for Siddharth Anand’s King just days after leaving Kalki 2898 AD. The film also stars Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. She will also star alongside Allu Arjun in Atlee’s upcoming project AA22xA6.-
