'Rani Mukerji, Kajol did it long before...' Maharaja Director Siddharth P. Malhotra on Deepika Padukone's 8-hour work shift demand
'Rani Mukerji, Kajol did it long before...' Maharaja Director Siddharth P. Malhotra on Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand
As conversations around work-life balance and shooting hours gain momentum in the film industry, filmmaker Siddharth P. Malhotra has weighed in on the ongoing 8-hour shift debate. Reflecting on his own experiences, he recalled how actors like Rani Mukerji and Kajol have been following structured, 8-hour workdays long before it became a trending topic. Citing the example of the film Hichki, which was wrapped in just 28 days, Siddharth highlighted the importance of discipline and coordination on set regardless of the shift duration. Siddharth P. Malhotra opens up on 8-hour work requests
Speaking to IANS, he said, 'Every film has its own requirement. We shot Hichki with Rani and the kids in 28 days with 8-hour shifts. Everyone—from actors to spot boys—was aligned. Kajol used to do 8-hour shifts even back in 2010. Rani does it too. So what Deepika is saying isn't new. If a director needs a certain actor and they can only give 6 hours a day—so be it. It's about aligning expectations. It's not about ego; it's about efficiency.'
For the unversed, the ongoing debate around 8-hour work shifts gained traction after reports emerged about Deepika Padukone's exit from the film Spirit. The actress was initially slated to star opposite Prabhas but reportedly stepped away from the project due to disagreements over certain demands. These included profit-sharing, an eight-hour workday, and other terms that reportedly didn't align with the filmmaker's vision. Following her exit, the makers brought Triptii Dimri on board as the new lead. Siddharth P. Malhotra addresses the issue of pay disparity in industry
Speaking about pay disparity in the industry, the Maharaj director acknowledged that while the conversation has been ongoing for years, the landscape is gradually shifting. Pointing to top stars like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, Siddharth noted that they are now among the highest-paid actors in the business.
According to Siddharth, remuneration in the industry is closely tied to an actor's box office pull. 'The truth is, pay depends on your star power. The first few days of a film rely on the actor's draw. After that, it's the director's job to sustain interest. It's not just about gender—it's about economics. If an actor brings in a strong opening, they deserve that pay. It's business logic.'
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News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Deepika Padukone's 8-Hour Shift Request Isn't New, Says Siddharth P Malhotra: 'Kajol, Rani Did It Too'
Siddharth P Malhotra supports Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand, reveals Kajol and Rani Mukerji made similar requests years ago. Calls media chatter 'publicity'. Last month, reports surfaced that Deepika Padukone had opted out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit, allegedly due to working condition concerns—including a request for an eight-hour workday. The development came eight months after the birth of her daughter, Dua Padukone. Weighing in on the matter, filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra—who helmed Junaid Khan's debut film Maharaj and directed Rani Mukerji's comeback film Hichki—stated that such requests are not new and have existed in the industry for years. 'We finished Hichki, the whole film, in 28 eight-hour shifts," Malhotra told IANS. 'Whether it was Rani (Mukerji), the kids, the cameramen or the spot boy, everyone finished in that time." Hichki, produced by Yash Raj Films, marked Rani Mukerji's return to the screen after the birth of her daughter Adira in December 2015. Recalling that emotional period, Rani had said, 'For 14 months, I have been there in front of her face. So I kept asking myself, 'Is it going to be worth it?'" She even confessed to 'howling in the car" on her first day back on set. Malhotra explained that every project comes with its own expectations and timelines, but the concept of eight-hour workdays isn't unprecedented. 'It's been happening for years. When I'd shot with Kajol in 2010, she used to do eight-hour shifts. She made it very clear she'd either come from 10 am to 6 pm, or 7 am to 2 pm, or for an eight-hour shift at night. Rani also did the same. Deepika isn't demanding anything new." Kajol recently supported the same practice in an interview with PTI, stating, 'I didn't work for 20 or 30 hours. I was always very clear that we would work a certain amount only, and my mom (veteran actor Tanuja) also backed me up big time on it." Addressing the controversy around Deepika's exit, Malhotra added, 'If I need an actor and am confident I can finish the film within those working hours, I'd work with them even for six hours a day. This isn't actor-specific. People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone. She's asking for family time, what wrong is she demanding?" He also remarked that if Vanga required longer hours from his female lead, the director could always adjust the schedule accordingly or cast someone else. 'If the director can't accommodate the timeline, they can simply choose to work with another actor," he said. Following Deepika's reported exit, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has signed Animal breakout star Triptii Dimri as the lead opposite Prabhas in Spirit. The film, backed by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series, is scheduled to release in cinemas next year. First Published:
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
‘What wrong is Deepika demanding?': Kajol and Rani did 8-hour shifts too, says director Siddharth P. Malhotra as Bollywood debate heats up
Agencies Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Spirit over her request for an eight-hour workday has reignited debate on humane work hours in Indian cinema. Director Siddharth P Malhotra defended her stance, citing past examples like Rani Mukerji and Kajol who also worked limited shifts post-motherhood. Last month, reports broke that Deepika Padukone had stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's much-anticipated Telugu cop drama Spirit . The reason? Her request for an eight-hour workday. The demand, made just eight months after the birth of her daughter Dua Padukone, sparked debate across the industry and social media, with many questioning whether actors should dictate such terms in big-budget productions. Now, director Siddharth P Malhotra has come out in her support, pointing out that such working conditions are not only reasonable but have long existed in the industry. Speaking to IANS, Malhotra recalled wrapping his 2018 film Hichki —starring Rani Mukerji—in just 28 eight-hour shifts. The film, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, marked Rani's return to the screen after giving birth to her daughter Adira in 2015. 'For 14 months, I have been there in front of her face. So I kept asking myself, 'Is it going to be worth it?'' Rani had shared in a past interview, reflecting on her emotional struggle as a new mother rejoining work. But Malhotra confirmed the working hours were kept tight and clear. 'She's asking for family time, what wrong is she demanding?' he asked bluntly. 'People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone.' Malhotra also pointed to his debut film We Are Family (2010), in which lead actor Kajol, a mother herself at the time, insisted on fixed working hours. 'When I shot with Kajol in 2010, she used to do eight-hour shifts. She made it very clear she'd either come from 10 am to 6 pm or 7 am to 2 pm,' he said, underscoring that the practice predates the current noise around Deepika's decision. Kajol recently echoed this sentiment to PTI, stating, 'I didn't work for 20 or 30 hours. I was always very clear that we would work a certain amount only, and my mom (veteran actor Tanuja) also backed me up big time on it.' Malhotra believes that directors should match their production plans with the availability of their actors—especially when such conditions are set transparently from the outset. 'If Deepika Padukone has made these conditions clear right from the start, then the director shouldn't work with her if it doesn't suit them,' he said. 'If I need an actor and am confident I can finish the film within those working hours, I'd work with them even for six hours a day.' He added that if Vanga's vision for Spirit required longer working hours, he was within his rights to recast. And that's exactly what has happened: Vanga has now brought Animal star Triptii Dimri on board as the lead opposite Prabhas in the film. While the industry is known for grueling shifts and punishing timelines, the conversation sparked by Padukone's stance opens a new chapter—one that addresses work-life balance, especially for women returning to work post-motherhood.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Renuka Shahane REACTS To 8-Hr Shift Debate Amid Deepika's Spirit Exit Row: ‘It's A Choice'
As a mother of two, the 58-year-old actress mentioned knowing many working mothers who handle 18-hour shifts on daily soap sets by bringing their children along. She believes it's their choice, and if producers agree, it's their decision. There should be no pressure, as some mothers might want or need to work those long hours. 'I know of a lot of working mothers who are going to work in daily soaps for 18-hour shifts, and they manage their child by taking them to the set, and kind of raising them practically on the set. It is a choice that they have made and who am I to say anything about that? If the producer accepts that, it's their prerogative. There should not be a compulsion as there might be mothers who want or need to work for 18 hours. It's a very individual thing," she said. Renuka also emphasised the importance of mutual understanding between actors and creators in such situations. She said that moving forward is pointless unless everyone involved shares the same understanding. 'Whenever you decide to sign on the dotted line, that has to be something mutual. And that sense of respect has to be there because if there is no respect, you're not going to be able to work with each other at all," she said. On the work front, Renuka Shahane was last seen in Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar's Marathi film 'Devmanus' which released in theatres on 25th April. She was also seen as Pushplata Yadav in Prime Video series 'Dupahiya' which premiered on 7th March, 2025. Deepika Padukone's Spirit Exit Row Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone recently exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit, leading to intense media scrutiny and speculation. Reports suggest the new mom had requested an 8-hour workday, a significant pay-check and profit-sharing, terms that reportedly didn't align with the filmmaker's expectations. While Deepika didn't directly address the exit, she recently posted about staying true to herself, hinting at her priorities as a new mother.
