Deepika Padukone Breaks Silence on 8-Hour Workday Demand<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has finally spoken out amid the controversy surrounding her request for an eight-hour workday\u2014a demand that reportedly led to her exit from two major projects, Spirit<\/em> by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the Kalki 2898 AD<\/em> sequel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Deepika addressed the backlash and highlighted the double standards women face in the film industry compared to their male colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deepika was straightforward about the criticism she faced for asking to work only eight hours a day. She pointed out that many male superstars in Bollywood have long worked similar hours without it becoming a news story. \u201cBy virtue of being a woman, if that\u2019s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added that many male actors work a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule with weekends off, yet this has never been questioned or criticized publicly. Her comments shed light on the unequal expectations placed on women in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deepika also spoke about the chaotic nature of the film industry\u2019s work culture. \u201cEven though we call it an industry, we have never really worked like one. It\u2019s a very disorganized industry, and I think it\u2019s time we brought in some system into this culture,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her push for structured work hours reflects a broader conversation around work-life balance and professionalism within Bollywood, especially for women balancing demanding careers with personal commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The controversy began when Deepika exited Spirit<\/em>, reportedly because her request for shorter work hours to better manage her personal life, including time with her daughter Dua, was not met. Shortly afterward, Vyjayanthi Movies announced she would no longer be part of the Kalki 2898 AD<\/em> sequel, citing the film\u2019s demand for a \u201chigher level of commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This sequence of events sparked widespread debate on social media and in entertainment circles about fairness and gender equality in Bollywood work environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deepika\u2019s comments came during her visit to Madhya Pradesh on World Mental Health Day, marking the 10th anniversary of her foundation, Live Love Laugh, which focuses on mental health awareness in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked if she felt she was paying a price for standing up for what she believes is fair, Deepika responded with quiet strength: \u201cI have done this at many levels. Even as pay is concerned, I have had to deal with whatever comes with it. I am someone who has always fought my battles silently, and for some strange reason sometimes they become public, which is not the way I know and not the way I\u2019ve been brought up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She emphasized that she prefers to handle challenges with dignity and silence, though sometimes her struggles become public unintentionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the controversy, Deepika is back at work. She recently started shooting for Siddharth Anand\u2019s King<\/em>, starring alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan. She is also set to feature in Atlee\u2019s upcoming film AA22xA6<\/em> with Allu Arjun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her ability to continue working on high-profile projects while advocating for healthier work conditions highlights her resilience and growing influence in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deepika Padukone\u2019s insistence on an eight-hour workday is more than a personal request\u2014it shines a spotlight on systemic issues in Bollywood\u2019s work culture. Her courage to speak openly about these challenges encourages a much-needed dialogue about gender equality, work-life balance, and professionalism in Indian cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Bollywood continues to evolve, Deepika\u2019s stance could inspire changes that benefit not just women, but all artists seeking respect and fairness in their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Deepika Padukone Breaks Silence on 8-Hour Workday Demand Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has finally spoken out amid the controversy surrounding her request for an eight-hour workday\u2014a demand that reportedly led to her exit from two major projects, Spirit by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Deepika addressed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[386,387,394,391,389,390,393,388,392],"class_list":["post-3028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrity-buzz","tag-8-hour-workday","tag-bollywood-work-culture","tag-deepika-padukone","tag-indian-film-industry","tag-kalki-2898-ad-sequel","tag-live-love-laugh-foundation","tag-mental-health-awareness","tag-spirit-movie","tag-women-in-bollywood"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3028"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3030,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3028\/revisions\/3030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n\u201cIf That Comes Across as Pushy, So Be It\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCalling for Structure in a Disorganized Industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Exit from Spirit<\/em> and Kalki 2898 AD<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAdvocating Mental Health and Balancing Battles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s Next for Deepika?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy Deepika\u2019s Stand Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n