Deepika Padukone on ‘Spirit’ and ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Exit: 'Male Actors Have Been Working 8 Hours For Years'
The actor opens up on industry double standards and her demand for 8-hour workdays after exiting two high profile projects.
After months of speculation surrounding her exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Deepika Padukone has finally spoken out. In a candid interview with CNBC TV18, the actor addressed the controversy surrounding her request for fixed eight-hour workdays on set, highlighting what she perceives as a persistent gender bias in the Indian film industry.
“By virtue of being a woman, if that comes across as pushy or whatever, then so be it,” Padukone said. “But it is no secret that a lot of male superstars in the Indian Film Industry have been working for eight hours a day for years, and it’s never made headlines.” She went on to point out that many male actors work standard eight-hour shifts from Monday to Friday and take weekends off, yet such arrangements rarely attract scrutiny.
Padukone added, “Even though it’s termed an industry, we have never really worked like an industry. It’s very disorganised, and I think it’s time we bring some system into this culture.”
The actor’s exit from Spirit reportedly stemmed from her desire to balance professional commitments with her personal life, particularly time with her daughter, Dua. Following this, Vyjayanthi Movies officially announced that Padukone would no longer be part of the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, citing a need for a higher level of commitment for the ambitious project. “Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership,” the production house stated, wishing Padukone the best for her future projects.
In response to the controversy, Spirit director Sandeep Reddy Vanga shared his perspective on social media without naming Padukone, expressing his frustration over creative disagreements and accusing the actor of sharing details about the project prematurely. Triptii Dimri has since been announced as Padukone's replacement, with Prabhas continuing in the lead role for both films.
Meanwhile, Padukone has already moved on to new projects, including King with Shah Rukh Khan and Atlee’s AA22xA6 alongside Allu Arjun, demonstrating her continued focus on a diverse slate of work.