Saiyaara director Mohit Suri has shared his opinion on the ongoing debate about fixed working hours in the film industry. The discussion started last year after Deepika Padukone reportedly supported the idea of eight-hour shifts for actors, which led to strong reactions across the industry. Now, Mohit has spoken about the issue and said the conversation should not be limited to actors alone.
The filmmaker recalled his experience from earlier shoots and explained that long working hours have always been a part of filmmaking. He also said that the debate should focus on the entire crew (not just the stars), because technicians and assistants often work longer hours without recognition.
Mohit Suri REACTS To 8-Hr Shift Debate
In an interview with Variety India, Mohit Suri spoke openly about the discussion around fixed work hours on film sets. He said that during his career, there have been times when actors had to work continuously because of tight schedules and expensive locations.
He said, “I have had actors work 24 hours when needed. When we were shooting for Awarapan and we had a really expensive location in the presidential suite of the Intercontinental Hotel on the terrace, we had it only for 24 hours. I remember Emraan Hashmi shot 24 hours with me… We are making it an ego argument. Why should someone dictate the shift? But let’s look at how quality of work happens, right? I mean if a unit is working 12 hours on the shift, they are actually working 14 hours because they are loading and unloading. They’re getting paid only for that 12 hours. I mean it could be even 15 hours. Then they go home.”
The director said that the issue is being looked at from the wrong angle. According to him, the focus should not only be on actors’ comfort but also on the people working behind the camera.
He added, “We are making this more about the actors and thinking they are demanding it. But let’s think about the unit because I’ve been an assistant director who, after the shoot has packed up, is waiting in the bus while the unit wraps up in the rain, while the lightmen wrap up, to be dropped at the station. And I know how difficult it is for the rest of the unit. We are getting egoistic about the fact that an actor has suggested it. But let’s think about the humanity of this also.”
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Mohit also said that the debate sometimes becomes unfair because people only talk about actors’ schedules. He explained that if a shoot finishes in eight hours, it is fine, but the industry must look at the bigger picture instead of turning it into an argument about ego. He added that people are “just giving too much attention to the beauty sleep of actors”, while many crew members continue to work much longer hours.
How Deepika Padukone’s Exit From Spirit Sparked The Discussion
The debate around working hours became bigger last year when Deepika Padukone reportedly stepped away from the film Spirit, which stars Prabhas and is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Reports suggested there were disagreements over creative terms and the demand for an eight-hour workday. After her exit, Triptii Dimri joined the project.
The incident led to a huge discussion on social media about professionalism, work-life balance and payment in big-budget films. Since then, many actors, including Kareena Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Divya Dutta, have shared their opinions on having fixed working hours on film sets.
Mohit Suri Work Front
On the work front, Mohit Suri recently delivered one of the biggest hits of his career with Saiyaara. The film received a strong response from audiences and added to his successful track record as a director.
At present, Mohit is busy writing his next project. The filmmaker has not revealed much about the film yet, and the cast is still being finalised. Meanwhile, fans are also waiting to see when he will collaborate again with Emraan Hashmi.
