Debate on Film Industry Work Hours Intensifies as Shobhaa De Backs Star Power in Negotiating Change

A broader discussion about labour practices in the film industry has been gaining traction after reports suggested that Deepika Padukone sought an eight-hour workday for projects like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.

The reported request reignited conversations around long shooting schedules, workplace balance, and whether meaningful reform is realistically achievable in a commerce-driven industry.

Over the past year, reactions within the entertainment fraternity have been divided. While some voices have applauded the move as progressive and overdue, others have questioned its feasibility in a business where financial stakes are high and time is tightly scheduled.

Columnist and author Shobhaa De, speaking to Rediff Originals, weighed in candidly. She argued that only a select group of A-list performers have the clout to successfully demand structured work hours.

According to her, stars such as Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra operate in a league where their market pull affords them leverage. For most others, she implied, such conditions may not be negotiable.

De pointed out that the industry’s core function remains revenue generation. Producers, she suggested, prioritise bankability and box-office draw, meaning only those actresses who consistently guarantee theatrical footfall can shape contractual terms.

In her view, lesser-established names would risk being replaced if they attempted to set similar boundaries.

While acknowledging that raising the issue is a positive step, De maintained that systemic transformation will not happen overnight.

She noted that even in Hollywood — despite years of discourse around wage gaps and equitable treatment — substantial structural shifts have been slow to materialise.

According to her, conversations around fairness have been ongoing for more than a decade internationally, yet tangible reform remains limited.

Motherhood and Career Trajectories

During the same interview, De also addressed the evolving narrative surrounding motherhood and leading actresses.

She questioned whether every actress who becomes a mother can seamlessly return to her previous professional standing.

Referring to figures like Katrina Kaif and Kiara Advani, she expressed uncertainty about whether public perception and casting dynamics remain unchanged after maternity.

However, she differentiated this from cases such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Alia Bhatt, whom she described as exceptional performers with proven commercial viability.

In her assessment, audiences primarily focus on their screen presence and performance output rather than their personal milestones.

These actresses, she said, have quickly reclaimed their professional space and continue to exercise control over the kind of roles and projects they choose.

On Kartik Aaryan’s Career Arc

Shifting focus, De also shared her thoughts on Kartik Aaryan, describing him as an engaging performer with an understated strength.

She praised his ease before the camera and the thoughtful selection of roles in his filmography. Despite this, she suggested that his success has not always matched his potential.

Speaking about his current project, the horror-comedy Nagzilla, she remarked that while she finds him compelling to watch, she remains uncertain about the prospects of his upcoming release.

Nonetheless, she characterised him as one of the industry’s more underrated talents.

A Debate Far From Settled

The renewed spotlight on working hours, pay equity, and work-life balance reflects a shifting cultural conversation within cinema.

Whether driven by star influence or broader collective advocacy, the issue has clearly entered mainstream discourse.

Yet, as De suggests, translating dialogue into structural reform may prove to be the industry’s real challenge.

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