Shefali Shah Says She Demands Hotel Suite, Fixed Work Hours: 'I'm Reasonable, Ask For Basics' | Exclusive

Deepika Padukone’s exit from Kalki 2 and Spirit has stirred up quite the debate about actors’ working hours. Deepika’s demand for an 8-hour shift or fixed working hours has been met with divided opinions.

In a recent exclusive chat with News18, Shefali Shah said that she also has fixed working hours mentioned in her contract. She mentioned that she demands a hotel suite and a vanity van and that she doesn’t work beyond a certain number of hours.

However, this has only been possible after headlining Delhi Crime. Due to the show’s success, Shefali Shah can now ask for what she wants. She tells News18 exclusively, “After all this time, after Delhi Crime, after me headlining a show, now I get what I ask for. Earlier, it was out of the question. For the longest time, I didn’t have an agent. Now I have someone with me who is very fierce, and she goes all out to protect me. Also, now there is a thing of if this is not possible, then I will not do the project. Earlier, whatever they say, I agreed.”

She adds, “Recently, Vipul Shah (her husband and producer) was talking to my assistant and told her that she has to get me out of the set after the agreed time because I can’t shoot for 24 hours. He told her, ‘She has to be taken out of there. She has to be physically moved out.’ I am still made to feel guilty about it in certain ways.”

Shefali reveals that while she does demand suites and vanities, it is not without reason. She explains, “I believe I am a very reasonable person. I ask for basic things, and there is a logic when I ask for things. You need a good room or a suite. But they ask, ‘Why do you need a suite?’ Because my hair, makeup, and everything are set up over there. In a hotel room, where is the space beyond the bed?”

“So, where will I keep all of these things? You want to do creative meetings with me? Where will I sit? On my bed? Would you allow it? It’s a basic thing. But people see it as a luxury. If not, give me an office space where I can do my trials,” the actress mentions.

Shefali says, “When I’m asking for a vanity van, I am asking it not just for myself, but also for my team. I don’t like my team standing outside in the heat or the rain. A lot of actors don’t care, but I don’t like it. You are asking for a decent van and a toilet, and not just for yourself. I also speak for my team. If I am on a shoot, and the producer says that I will only pay for your food, then I say okay and I give my card. I don’t want to discussion about it because it is not worth my effort.”

“I was shooting a few months ago, and there is a stipulated time on my contract, so I used to leave and I remember after 2-3 days an AD and some crew members said that ‘thank God, she leaves because that way we get to go home, otherwise we are just here, we live on the set,’” she concludes.