Deepika Padukone BREAKS SILENCE on 8-hour workday demand after exit from Spirit and Kalki sequel: “If that comes across as pushy, so be it”
Actor Deepika Padukone has addressed the ongoing row surrounding her demand for an eight-hour work shift, a request that reportedly led to her exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD sequel. Speaking with CNBC-TV18, the actor highlighted the double standards faced by women in the film industry when compared to their male counterparts. “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it,” Deepika said, responding to criticism. “But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines. A lot of them only work for eight hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends.” Deepika further reflected on the need for structure in an otherwise chaotic work environment. “Even though we call it an industry, we have never really worked like one. It’s a very disorganised industry, and I think it’s time we brought i...