Submitted By: Author: Shruti Mishra On Oct 13, 2025 08:21 PM IST
The discussion around work-life balance in the Indian film industry gained a significant spotlight following reports of superstar Deepika Padukone’s insistence on an eight-hour workday, a demand which allegedly led to her stepping away from major projects.
In an industry notorious for its grueling, often 14-hour-plus shifts, this demand sparked a massive, industry-wide debate, and it was heartening to see thoughtful actresses like Konkona Sen Sharma and Priyamani weigh in on the matter, bringing much-needed context to the challenges faced by working women, especially mothers.
Konkona Sen Sharma, known for her sharp intellect and nuanced perspectives, approached the conversation by acknowledging the reality of the industry while still advocating for change. She pointed out that achieving work-life balance is an extremely difficult task for everyone, not just those in the film business, and specifically for mothers, which is a key factor in Deepika's request after the birth of her daughter.
Konkona was candid, noting that she knew she wouldn't "get away with very short working hours" in the current system. However, she stressed that things can be changed for the better "through conversations, discussions, unions, a little bit of protest, and a little bit of adjusting."
Her stance was not one of unrealistic expectation, but a call for an organized, compassionate approach, suggesting that while the industry is deeply ingrained in long-shift culture, continuous dialogue and a collective push for better working conditions are the only way forward. She effectively endorsed the spirit of Deepika’s action, recognizing it as a necessary step toward professionalizing an often disorganized industry.
Adding her voice to the discourse was Priyamani, who has also worked across various regional film industries. While she acknowledged the complexity of a film set and the times when "you will have to adjust" to meet filming demands, she did so in the broader context of a system that needs reform.
Her comments came after Deepika herself publicly questioned the double standards in the industry, pointing out that many male superstars have quietly enjoyed eight-hour shifts for years without any of the negative media coverage or professional backlash that she faced.
Priyamani’s view, therefore, resonated as an understanding of the practical challenges of filmmaking, but also a quiet nod to the underlying need for actors, particularly women, to push for boundaries. Her co-sign on the larger issue of workplace fairness added another strong voice to the argument, asserting that while flexibility is sometimes necessary, the default should not be an unsustainable and often gender-biased expectation of ceaseless labor.
Ultimately, the support from these talented actresses highlights that Deepika Padukone's action was not simply a personal demand but a powerful, necessary statement for better working culture.
By standing up for an eight-hour shift, she forced an industry-wide conversation about equality and work-life balance, and the thoughtful backing she received from peers like Konkona Sen Sharma and Priyamani turned a simple scheduling dispute into a larger movement advocating for a more professional, organized, and equitable environment for all working professionals in cinema. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to serialboosters.com Thank you!
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