Flora Saini On Deepika Padukone’s 8-Hour Shift Demand: People Label Female Actors Unprofessional When… – Exclusive

Actress Flora Saini, known for her work across Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil films, recently opened up about her experience in Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 and shared her views on Deepika Padukone’s recent remark

supporting an eight-hour workday in the film industry. Flora, who rose to fame with roles in projects like Stree, Inside Edge, and Abhay, is known for her calm and poised personality both on and off screen. After spending weeks inside the Bigg Boss house, she emerged as one of the most graceful contestants. In a candid conversation with Zoom, she spoke about her journey in the show, the lessons she learned, and why she believes Deepika’s statement has sparked an important conversation about equality and work-life balance in showbiz.

Unfiltered Flora Saini!

Talking about her Bigg Boss stint, Flora said, “It was one of the most intense yet beautiful experiences of my life. I went in thinking, ‘How will I survive here? I’m not a fighter, I’m not aggressive.’ I honestly didn’t know if I’d last even a week.”However, she decided to stay true to herself. “I didn’t want to pretend or play a part. How I am in real life, that’s exactly how I was inside the house. I broke the formula of screaming and shouting. Every issue doesn’t deserve a fight - sometimes silence is stronger,” she said.Flora added that the love she received after coming out of the house surprised her. “People messaged me saying, ‘You were a breath of fresh air!’ That made me so happy. I wanted to show that calmness and kindness are not weaknesses. You can be gentle and still be strong,” she said.

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The actress also spoke about facing a language barrier. “Telugu isn’t my first language, so there were times I didn’t understand jokes or arguments right away. But I chose to be patient. I told myself - you don’t always have to react; you can just observe and learn. And I think that’s what connected with people,” she reflected.Flora believes Bigg Boss helped her rediscover her emotional strength. “You learn so much about yourself in that house. The isolation, the cameras - they test you. But I came out stronger, calmer, and more thankful for every moment,” she shared.When asked about Deepika Padukone’s statement supporting an eight-hour workday for female actors, Flora said she wholeheartedly agreed. “I totally stand by her. Deepika said what so many of us have been feeling but never said out loud,” Flora began.She continued, “Male actors have always had that flexibility. They can say, ‘I’ll shoot from 9 to 5,’ and everyone adjusts. But if a female actor says the same thing, suddenly people label her as ‘demanding’ or ‘unprofessional.’ It’s a double standard.”Flora added, “If a new mother wants to work while also being there for her child, and she requests an eight-hour day, that’s absolutely fair. She’s still giving her best - just in a way that also respects her personal life. Why should that be a problem?”She pointed out that structured work schedules benefit everyone, not just mothers. “I’ve worked in web series where everything is time-bound - it’s organised, professional, and efficient. Bollywood could learn from that. Long, unplanned shooting hours don’t make anyone more creative - they just make people tired,” Flora said.Praising Deepika for leading the conversation, she added, “When someone like Deepika speaks, the industry listens. She’s using her voice for change, and that’s powerful. She’s not just thinking about herself - she’s setting an example for all of us.”Flora concluded with a strong message, saying, “Every actor deserves to decide how they want to work. The goal isn’t to work less - it’s to work smarter, happier, and healthier. I hope producers and directors start recognising that too.”Did you like our brief chat with Flora Saini? Let us know by tweeting at @TimesNow!