The reported fallout between actress Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga over the film Spirit has stirred intense public discussion. At the heart of the issue lies a demand by Deepika, who recently became a mother, for a regulated 8-hour workday, a request that allegedly did not align with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s working style.
The disagreement, according to some reports, led to her exit from the project. As the conversation around work-life balance in the film industry gained momentum, veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma offered a more grounded take on the situation, suggesting that the matter has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion.
In an interview with a leading publication, Ram Gopal Varma explained that the idea of fixed working hours on a film set is inherently complicated. He emphasised that shift timings and other working conditions are mutually decided between an actor and a filmmaker, making it a private agreement rather than a topic for public debate. He questioned the narrative that one party could impose conditions on another, arguing that both the sides are free to agree or disagree on terms. The filmmaker illustrated his point by saying that just as a director might claim willingness to work for 23 hours, an actor might be comfortable working only for one. It’s a matter of mutual consent, not coercion, and such decisions should ideally stay between the two involved.
Ram Gopal Varma further elaborated that the unpredictability of filmmaking makes it nearly impossible to adhere to rigid working hours. According to him, many variables influence a shoot, ranging from lighting conditions and actor availability to the accessibility of a location, which makes any predetermined schedule susceptible to change. He concluded that fixed shift timings are impractical in the cinema world due to the dynamic and collaborative nature of the medium.
Adding to the conversation, director Mohit Suri also shared his thoughts in a recent interview with a news channel. He took a neutral stance, suggesting that different films and filmmakers work under different conditions, especially based on the budget. According to Mohit Suri, no director deliberately tries to overwork anyone. Practical constraints, like limited budgets, often dictate the number of shooting hours per day. In his view, every artist involved in a project has a choice — to accept or reject it based on their own comfort and understanding of the demands involved.
Mohit Suri, however, did point out what he sees as a problematic practice — when someone tries to change terms after committing to a project. He felt that anyone signing on should be aware of the production realities in advance. If new demands arise after the agreement, especially ones that conflict with the project’s structure, it can cause disruptions not just creatively but also financially.
While opinions differ, what remains evident is that the film industry operates on a delicate balance between creative freedom and logistical challenges. The controversy surrounding Spirit has sparked an important debate about professional boundaries, work expectations and the evolving demands of a more balanced life, especially for artists who juggle personal milestones alongside professional commitments.
Was Deepika’s request a reasonable demand or an unrealistic expectation? Do let us know your opinion on this matter.
