Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit brought the issue of long working hours in the film industry into focus. What started as a casting update soon turned into a wider conversation, with several actors
and filmmakers weighing in on how demanding shoot schedules can get. While some voices have supported an eight-hour workday, others feel longer hours are sometimes unavoidable if the script and scale demand it.
Now, Suniel Shetty has shared his take on the matter. The senior actor made it clear that he is not in favour of stretching himself to the point of exhaustion.
Suniel Shetty weighs in on 8-hour shift
In an interview with Mid-Day, Suniel Shetty said, “Even being a part of the industry, I have only made sure that I work during my work hours. If it’s a 9 to 6, I would expect it to be 9 to 6.” However, he said that if his producer was having financial touble he would extend his shifts. He said, “If my producer is in trouble, I’ll do a 9 to 9 the next morning, but that understanding is important; otherwise, you can’t get the best output from me.”
Suniel Shetty added that it was not realistic to have long shifts, “You’re talking about 12-hour or 18-hour work. It’s not possible,” he said.
The actor said that if he doesn’t get his break, then he gets irritated. “I was an action hero. If I don’t get my break or my lunch, I become the most irritable person. I need that break because that’s what recharges me. So, if you want the best output, you give me my breaks.”
The actor shared his principles in life and said that it wasn’t healthy to overexert yourself. He said, “I honestly believe you can’t achieve anything in life by overextending yourself or constantly pushing your limits. For me, fitness is my life. I am who I am at 65 only because of that fitness. If you take away the gym from me, you take away my life. What’s important for me is something I need to realise, and the people who expect me to work need to realise it too.”
Deepika Shift on 8-hour work debate
Deepika Padukone had earlier spoken about the entire controversy in an interview with CNBC and said, “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”
She added, “I don’t want to take names now and make this into a whole thing, but it is very commonly, publicly known that a lot of male actors have been working for eight hours a day for years. A lot of them only work for eight hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends.”
