‘Nobody Is Forcing’ Rana Daggubati CLAIMS Telugu Actors Work Less Than 8 Hours Amid Deepika Padukone’s Spirit Exit

Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit has reignited the debate on actors' working hours in the film industry. Reports claimed she left the project after the director refused her request for an 8-hour workday, among other demands.

Now, Rana Daggubati has shared his take on the matter. In a conversation with Lallantop Cinema, he said the work culture in cinema depends on many things. “It depends on the project, the person, and the region,” Rana explained. “In Maharashtra, it's a 12-hour shift, while in Telugu cinema typically has an 8-hour shift starting at 7 am.”

Rana Daggubati Talks About Pressure On Actors

Rana pointed out that not every project works the same way. He said, “You are seeing it as a generic statement - it is not. There are films taking place on a big spectacle where only two shots happen in a day."

He also addressed the pressure on actors and said, “Nobody is forcing anybody. It’s a job. You can't be forced to do a job. There are actors who only work four hours a day - that’s their system of working. They end up doing more than what a guy in 8 hours does.” He stressed that each actor has their own style and pace, and there’s no one-size-fits-all rule.

Deepika’s Exit and What’s Next

Deepika was originally expected to star in Spirit opposite Prabhas. According to reports, she had a few conditions like an 8-hour shooting cap, profit share, and not having to speak dialogues in Telugu. The buzz is that Sandeep Reddy Vanga did not agree, which led to her walking away from the project.

She has now joined director Atlee’s next Telugu film, opposite Allu Arjun. Meanwhile, Rana Daggubati is gearing up for Rana Naidu Season 2. The show also stars Venkatesh Daggubati, Arjun Rampal, Surveen Chawla, Kriti Kharbanda, Sushant Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, and Dino Morea. The new season drops on June 13 on Netflix.