Shefali Shah slams “unfair” work hours in film industry; questions why overtime and actor delays are normalised

Shefali Shah has added her voice to the ongoing conversation surrounding work-hour regulations in the entertainment industry, a debate that has intensified ever since reports claimed Deepika Padukone exited Spirit due to disagreements over strict shift timings. In a recent conversation with Mid-Day, Shefali offered a detailed, ground-level perspective on why the discussion is long overdue and why current practices are “unfair” to both actors and crew members.

 

Shefali Shah slams “unfair” work hours in film industry; questions why overtime and actor delays are normalised

 

Explaining the realities of a typical workday, Shefali highlighted the toll that extended hours take on the body and mind. “I take one-and-a-half hours to reach the set and the same time to return. For those hours on set, I give it my all. I go back home, and hopefully, I can go to the gym because that’s part of my job. Then I will shower, eat, go back to the script, and then wake up the next morning for another day of work. How many hours of sleep am I getting? And how are you expecting me to come with my A-game?” she said.

 

While Shefali clarified that actors understand the need for occasional flexibility due to location constraints or unavoidable circumstances, she stressed that such exceptions cannot become the norm. “We are reasonable people. So, we realise the need to accommodate if a location is not available tomorrow or something has to be done now. But it can’t be the norm,” she stated.

 

The actress also drew attention to how overtime impacts crew members, who often do not receive additional compensation despite the long hours. Sharing an experience from a recent project, she said, “On one of the last films I shot for, which had a 10-hour schedule, some of the ADs said, ‘Thank God, she leaves because that way we get to go.’ The rest of the crew doesn’t get paid extra for the overtime. Is it fair to them?”

 

Shefali further pointed out an unspoken disparity in the debate: while women are vocal about their need for structured hours, the habitual late arrivals of some male actors are rarely questioned. “We are talking about eight hours and 10 hours contractually, but have we even accounted for the number of hours some male actors come late? That’s not even considered!” she remarked.

 

With multiple celebrities weighing in recently — some supporting the push for regulated hours, others calling it impractical for the nature of filmmaking — Shefali’s comments add a clear, incisive perspective to an industry-wide issue that shows no signs of slowing down.

 

Also Read: Ishaan Khatter shares his take on the 8-hour workday debate: “It’s a very privileged position to say I’m okay to work these many hours”

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