When Deepika Padukone Demanded Shorter Working Hours For Actors, Film Crew Years Before Kalki 2898 AD, Spirit Controversy

Deepika

Padukone has long been vocal about her vision for a healthier, more professional work environment in Bollywood. Years before her recent exit from Kalki 2898 AD, the actress had outlined her thoughts on fair working hours, crew welfare, and mental health support on film sets. Her stance focussed on the well-being of all members of a film production.

Deepika on shorter hours of work

In an old interview with Anupama Chopra, Deepika elaborated on what she would like to see done differently in the industry. She said, “To begin with, streamlining the hours that we work, especially for the crew. There is this sense that if you make people work extra and continuously, you get it done faster. My thinking is the exact opposite, people need to be given enough downtime and rest so that they come back with better energy. That'll help you work faster and better the quality of your work too.”She also stressed fair compensation for overtime: “Actors, at the end of the day, are going to walk away the awards and the rewards, and so do the directors and everyone above board. The crew, on the other hand, comes in much earlier and leaves much later. Overtime may happen but we need to find a mechanism where they're at least compensated for that on an hourly basis.”

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Deepika vs Kalki 2898 AD makers

Reports now suggest that similar concerns may have played a role in her departure from Kalki 2898 AD. The producers officially announced her exit, stating, “This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD. After careful consideration. We have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. And a film like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works.”It is believed that Deepika requested a 25% fee hike and shorter working hours, which the team could not accommodate. This marks her second high-profile exit from a Prabhas-starrer, following her departure from

Spirit.