Deepika Padukone has finally broken her silence on the recent controversies surrounding her alleged demand for fixed 8-hour work schedules; which many speculate played a role in her exit from Kalki 2898 AD and the chatter around Spirit.
Known for her professionalism and calm demeanor, the actress has addressed the issue head-on, calling out the gender bias that exists in the Indian film industry.
Speaking to CNN TV18 on the occasion of World Mental Health Day in Madhya Pradesh, where she marked 10 years of her foundation Live Love Laugh, Deepika said she has always been vocal about the need to bring change to the industry.
“Slowly but surely I am focused on bringing about change in the workplace as far as the Indian film industry is concerned because it’s brutal,” she said. “We have a tendency to work in a way that is ‘chalta hai’. If a system has been working well, I don’t know according to whom, but if it’s been working for this long, then why shake the apple cart? I’ve never been that person. I’m always looking at how we can make things better.”
When asked specifically about the debate surrounding her 8-hour work schedule, Deepika was candid.
“By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it,” she said. “But it is no secret that a lot of male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working for eight hours for years. And it’s never made headlines.”
She stressed that the practice isn’t new. “I don’t want to take names now and make this into a whole thing. But it’s publicly known that many male actors work only 8 hours, Monday to Friday. They don’t work on weekends either. The larger issue is that while the Indian film industry is called an industry, we’ve never actually worked like one. It’s very disorganized, and it’s time to bring in some structure.”
Deepika also pointed out that she isn’t alone in setting these boundaries. “I know a lot of women; many of them new mothers; who have also started working 8 hours. But that also didn’t make headlines,” she added with a hint of irony.
Asked if she fears any professional backlash, Deepika remained composed. “I’ve done this at many levels. It’s not new to me. Even when it came to pay, I’ve dealt with what came my way. I’ve always fought my battles silently. For some strange reason, sometimes they become public; which is not my way. But yes, to fight my battles in a dignified and silent way is the only way I know.”
Her statement highlights a long-standing double standard in the industry, where male stars’ working terms are accepted without question, but similar expectations from women become controversies.