Deepika Padukone walking out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit due to a disagreement over working hours– particularly her request for an eight-hour workday — and other professional terms, has sparked a significant debate in the Hindi film industry regarding work-life balance, especially for new mothers like Deepika herself.
While Deepika made headlines for taking a firm stand on work-life balance, this isn’t the first time the actor has brought attention to the issue. She had raised the same concern even before becoming a mother. In an old interview, Deepika had spoken about the need to streamline working hours, not just for actors but for the entire film crew as well.
‘Years ago, I realized the importance of finding a work-life balance’
In a past conversation with Film Companion, Deepika Padukone had revealed that it was during her struggle with depression that she understood the value of work-life balance and the impact it can have on a person’s mental health. She said, “That’s also where I draw the line in terms of my schedule. That’s the only place where I could start feeling that I’m not enjoying what I’m doing. The only other time I felt like that was when I was experiencing depression, but that’s very different because you have no control over your thoughts and feelings. Many years ago, I realized the importance of finding a work-life balance. I don’t intend to burnout, I’m not going anywhere.”
Sharing how in India taking time for oneself is not always viewed as necessary, she said, “Somehow, in our country, including the corporate world, taking leaves or wanting time for yourself carries a connotation of being unprofessional, not hardworking or driven enough. And I disagree. You can be all of those things and still make time for yourself. How are you going to replenish and put energy back into your work if you don’t?”
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‘Compensate crew for overtime’
During the same interaction, Deepika Padukone also advocated for setting fixed working hour limits for crew members. When asked what changes she wants to make as a producer, she said, “Streamlining the hours that we work, especially for the crew. There is this sense that if you make people work extra and continuously, you get it done faster. My thinking is the exact opposite — people need to be given enough downtime and rest so that they come back with better energy. That’ll help you work faster and better the quality of your work too.”
The actor also spoke about the need to compensate crew members who work overtime. She said, “Step 2 is to be compensated for overtime. Actors, at the end of the day, are going to walk away with the awards and the rewards, and so do the directors and everyone above board. The crew, on the other hand, comes in much earlier and leaves much later. Overtime may happen but we need to find a mechanism where they’re at least compensated for that on an hourly basis.”
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After Deepika Padukone walked out of Spirit, Triptii Dimri was cast in the film in the lead role, along with Prabhas.
