Thamma director Aditya Sarpotdar is enjoying the successful box office run of the Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna starrer. Aditya, one of the most successful directors in current times, has his
own way of working. But how much does the demand for fixed working hours from actors affect him as a filmmaker, and where does he stand on the discussion? Aditya, while exclusively speaking to News18 Showsha, shared his thoughts.
Speaking to us, Aditya said that he believes there is a need to understand how many hours one should work. He shared, “Many times, it is taken for granted that everyone will work 24 hours, and it takes a toll both physically and mentally. I think a 12-hour shift is very understandable and practical when you are shooting. To do anything beyond that is not right. I have seen situations where people don’t even get a chance to go home between schedules, and it is a very unfair practice.”
Aditya on Deepika Padukone’s demand
Addressing Deepika Padukone’s demand for fixed working hours, Aditya added, “I think, as an actor, you have to look a certain way on camera. And the demand that is coming, we need to understand its background. Deepika started the conversation, so you have to understand where it is coming from and why she is demanding 8 hours — there is no sense in giving a generic statement to it.”
For him, it is all about “to each his own,” and he understands that it is also the director’s responsibility to make actors feel comfortable. Citing a personal example, Aditya shared, “For example, when Paresh (Rawal) ji came on board, he was battling health issues. There was a point when he said he wouldn’t be able to do the film as doctors had advised him to take rest. So we said, ‘Sir, hum kam time mein aapka kaam khatam karenge.’ It is our responsibility to take care of him.”
Aditya on Rashmika Mandanna’s work ethics
He further continued and revealed that, contrary to the 8-hour shift demand, Rashmika Mandanna works for longer hours without any complaints. He said, “As for Rashmika, she works for 12 hours — never once has she said that she is tired. Maybe because she is at that point in life where she can pull it off, but it shouldn’t be one rule applied to all. I do feel that if an actor and a director come on the same page, only then should they work together.”
