Priyamani reacts to Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour workday stance, ‘It’s subjective, sometimes you need to adjust’ | Hindi Movie News
Deepika Padukone’s push for structured working hours in Bollywood has sparked a larger conversation across the film industry, with several stars weighing in on the issue. The latest to share her perspective is South actress Priyamani, who believes that while the idea of fixed hours is valid, flexibility remains essential on film sets.In a recent interview with News18, Priyamani said, “It is completely subjective. There are times when you will have to adjust which is okay and you should make room for it.” The actress, who is set to reprise her role as Suchitra in The Family Man Season 3 alongside Manoj Bajpayee, added that collaboration and adaptability are equally important in an industry where creative demands can vary each day.
The debate that started with Deepika Padukone
The discussion around work hours gained momentum after reports suggested that Deepika Padukone’s decision to work an 8-hour shift — especially after embracing motherhood — was one of the reasons behind her stepping away from films like Spirit and Kalki 2. Her stance has since stirred a debate about work-life balance and professionalism within the Indian film industry.In recent interviews with CNBC-TV18 and Brut, Deepika made it clear that she wasn’t making unreasonable demands. “I don’t think what I’m asking for is ridiculously unfair, and I think only someone who’s worked in the system enough will know that the conditions that we work in… I’m saying this as, if I may say so myself, a top star,” she explained.She further added that she’s always been comfortable challenging long-standing norms: “I’m okay with challenging the status quo. I’ve always been like that since I was a child. If I can see that something can be different or better, even if there are systems that are age-old, I’m okay to ruffle those feathers… I’m okay being abused at. I can very easily cut out the noise.”
‘Male stars have worked 8 hours for years — it never made headlines’
Deepika also pointed out the gender bias in how her demand was perceived, saying, “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 8 hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”She added that many top male actors have followed a five-day, 8-hour schedule for years without any controversy: “A lot of them work only 8 hours Monday to Friday; they do not work on weekends.”
‘The industry needs structure’
Deepika also addressed what she feels is the root cause of the issue — a lack of organisation in the film industry. “While the Indian film industry is called an ‘industry’, we’ve never really functioned like one. It’s extremely disorganised, and it’s about time we brought in proper systems and structure,” she said.She concluded by highlighting that many women, including new mothers, are now setting similar boundaries: “I also know a lot of women now and newly turned mothers who have also started working eight hours. But that also surprisingly didn’t make headlines.”
