The conversation around fixed working hours in Bollywood gained fresh momentum after reports claimed that Deepika Padukone was ousted from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit for demanding structured work schedules
as a new mother. The issue has since sparked industry-wide discussion and now Radhika Apte has reacted to the same. As a mom herself, the actress is firmly on the same page.
Radhika, who recently celebrated her daughter’s first birthday, says Deepika’s demand is completely valid. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the actress explained, “I will not be able to work unless the producers now agree to 12-hour shifts, and by 12 hours, I mean, including travel, makeup and hair. Otherwise, we are basically working for 16 hours as you’re on set for a minimum of 14 hours, including your hair, makeup and just a little bit of extended shift.”
Stressing why fixed hours are now non-negotiable, she added that being away for 16 hours a day will not allow her to see her child. The actress continued, “You don’t have weekly offs. Sometimes you don’t have lunch breaks. So, it’s not possible to work that way for me. I will not be able to work on most of the projects because a lot of people won’t agree with this.”
Radhika Apte On Her Freedom
Radhika recently travelled to Mumbai for the promotions of Saali Mohabbat, marking the first time she had been away from her daughter in an entire year. She admitted the experience was emotionally challenging but also gave her unexpected breathing space. In her words, “I felt worried about her but it was great to be free and had this mini time off. I slept without being woken up. I loved my freedom.”
There Is No Dearth Of Work For Radhika Apte
Interestingly, while many actresses see a drop in work offers after becoming mothers, Radhika says that has not been the case for her. She has already had two releases post-childbirth – Sister Midnight and Saali Mohabbat. Despite the constant opportunities, she consciously chose to step away from work. She concluded, “At the moment, I’ve said no to everything that has come as I’m going to take on work only after April. There’s a potential film that I might do, but other than that, I’ve not signed anything.”
Alongside Radhika Apte, Saali Mohabbat also stars Sauraseni Maitra, Divyendu Sharma, Anshumaan Pushkar and Anurag Kashyap. The film is currently streaming on Zee 5.
