Ever since Deepika Padukone requested an 8-hour shift for herself after becoming a mother, it has sparked a debate in Bollywood. Many Bollywood actresses have spoken about how shifts run late in the Hindi
film industry, and much of the shoot time is wasted in chaos. Now, Kalki Koechlin has also weighed in.
Kalki recently worked in an international production called Her Song. In a recent chat with Hindustan Times, she was asked about the difference between Indian and international productions. According to the actress, the difference is quite clear.
She said, “The fun and coolest part was how tight and concise the crew was. Here, we never have fewer than a hundred people on set at any time. It can be chaotic and noisy where you’re trying to concentrate.”
Kalki Koechlin also mentioned, “There’s a lot of shaant (peace) there, and we could learn from that. As for them, I think they could learn from us how to heighten emotion without it feeling over-the-top.”
“Rarely has my 12-hour shift here ended or begun on time. It’s even more exhausting for the crew who work longer hours. Even when shooting for Goldfish (2023) in London, there were strict rules for work hours, one-hour lunch breaks, and getting every seventh day off. I believe we can learn a great deal from that to create a happier set. The chaos we work with here isn’t necessarily healthy for creative work,” she said.
As for Her Song, the actress said, “Her Song will be my next release, it will be screened at film festivals before the theatres. I am shooting in Bombay and Calcutta now for a show I cannot speak about yet. But I just wish for a nice comedy to come my way. That’s what’s missing from my life.”
Deepika Padukone On Working Conditions In Bollywood
Weeks after her exit from Kalki 2, Deepika Padukone spoke exclusively to CNBC-TV18 when she addressed the ongoing debate surrounding working conditions and pay parity in Bollywood and said, “I have done this at many levels; this is not new to me. I think, even as far as pay is concerned, I have had to deal with whatever comes with it. I don’t even know what to call it, but I am someone who has always fought my battles silently. And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public, which is not the way I know and not the way I’ve been brought up. But yes, to fight my battles silently and in a dignified way is the way I know.”
