The debate around fixed working hours in the Indian film industry has taken centre stage following Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit. It was widely reported that Deepika, now a new mother, had requested an 8-hour workday, a demand that was allegedly turned down, sparking a larger industry-wide discussion.
Actor Rana Daggubati, in a recent interview, weighed in with a nuanced take. He acknowledged the importance of work-life balance, especially in evolving creative industries, but also pointed out that India’s developing economy often demands longer work hours.
“India is a developing country”: Rana
“We should understand that India is a developing country. We are not a developed nation. Our economy is probably 186th in the world if you look at the per capita income,” Rana explained.
Sharing his personal experiences from the Telugu film industry, Rana highlighted the hard work and dedication of those who built the industry from scratch after moving from Madras. “So to me, it is not work, it is a lifestyle,” he added.
He further clarified that working hours vary between industries. “Like in Maharashtra, it is a 12-hour shift, in Telugu it is an 8-hour shift. But in Maharashtra, you start at 9 am, but in Telugu, we start at 7 am. The location and city, whether it is shot on a set or in a studio, all this also adds to that factor,” he said.
“Nobody is forcing anybody”
Rana also addressed whether actors are forced to work longer hours. “Nobody is forcing anybody. It is a job. Like nobody can force you, ‘You have to do this show.’ It’s a choice. Everyone has an opinion on what is important in their life,” he said. “There are actors who shoot for only 4 hours, but that is their system of working.”
Meanwhile, Vanga’s cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter) hinted at the controversy. Without naming Deepika, he accused the actor of playing a “dirty PR game” and said, “There is an unsaid NDA between us… Putting down a Younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”
The statement added, “You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it.”
