A debate around working hours in the Indian film industry has resurfaced after Deepika Padukone recently suggested that new mothers should be allowed to work eight-hour shifts. Her remarks sparked a wider conversation online and within the industry about the long-standing culture of extended shoot days, with several actors voicing support for the idea of more flexible schedules.
Film shoots in India have historically run for long stretches depending on production demands. While many male actors have managed to establish an 8-hour shift, women in the business have had to fight harder to set the same boundaries.
In an exclusive conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Ananya Panday addressed the debate and shared their perspectives on how working hours are negotiated within the industry.
Kapoor Khan emphasised the importance of setting expectations early in a project. “Everything needs to be really well-planned and you have to be very clear right from the beginning. I will say, ‘This is what I can do,’ because I have two children. I need to come back. Obviously, even if you’re married, have children and as a woman, if you do not want to give that time, you should be able to have that freedom to say, ‘This is what I want. I can only work this number of hours.’ It’s fine to say that way before a film starts,” she said.
Priyadarshan pointed to the realities of demanding shooting schedules, particularly in the Malayalam film industry, while acknowledging incremental progress. “The Malayalam industry is 16-hour shifts. We just brought it down to 12 hours and I think it’s a huge win for our industry. Cinema can’t be boxed into fixed hours, but I think we all deserve respect and rest and support,” she said.
Panday described the issue as one that ultimately requires negotiation between actors and producers rather than a uniform rule. “It’s a discussion, and I think the film should be the priority. It’s okay to have a conversation with your producer, to find a balance. It’s a private conversation to have, and it’s something that can be worked around. There’s no hard and fast rule. Everyone is allowed to have that conversation,” said Panday.
