Actress Amrita Puri has spoken in support of actress Deepika Padukone amid the ongoing debate around fixed working hours in the Hindi film industry. The discussion began after reports claimed Deepika had requested 8-hour work shifts following motherhood, leading to strong reactions within the industry and on social media.
In a recent interview, Amrita shared her own experiences of working under exhausting conditions in the film industry. Known for her role in the film Aisha, the actress said she has often worked 16-hour shifts and even stayed awake through all-night shoots without receiving extra payment. According to her, the issue raised by Deepika is not unreasonable and deserves serious attention.
Amrita pointed out that actors are generally expected to work up to 12 hours and extending beyond that without additional compensation is unfair. She said Deepika has highlighted an important issue related to work-life balance and employee treatment in the entertainment industry.
The actress also questioned why Deepika’s reported demand became such a huge public discussion. She believes the criticism has been excessive and linked it to gender bias within the industry. Amrita stated that if a male actor had asked for the same arrangement, it likely would not have attracted headlines or public scrutiny.
She further revealed that several successful male actors already include fixed-hour clauses in their contracts, including 8-hour work limits, but those agreements are rarely discussed openly. According to Amrita, this reflects a patriarchal mindset where similar demands are judged differently depending on whether they come from a man or a woman.
Amrita also defended the idea of working mothers seeking flexibility in demanding professions. She said there is nothing wrong with a new mother asking for support while continuing her career. In her view, women should not feel pressured to choose between motherhood and professional life. She added that many women want to continue acting and remain active in the workforce instead of stepping away from their careers after becoming mothers.
The controversy around Deepika began after reports surfaced that she exited director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit because her demands, including an 8-hour work shift, reportedly did not align with the production’s expectations. Later, reports about her stepping away from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD also gained attention.
The discussion has now grown beyond one actress, turning into a larger conversation about long working hours, pay, gender equality and the treatment of women in the film industry.
What is your take on this matter?
