The debate around working hours for actresses—particularly mothers—in the film industry continues to gain traction, with Ananya Panday recently weighing in on the subject. The conversation was sparked after reports suggested that Deepika Padukone insisted on an eight-hour shift and weekly offs to balance her professional commitments and responsibilities as a new mother. The reports also claimed that the actress stepped away from Spirit, starring Prabhas and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, amid discussions surrounding these demands.
While the conversation has divided opinions in the industry, several celebrities have voiced support for Padukone’s stance. During a recent interaction with The Hollywood Reporter India along with Kalyani Priyadarshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Panday also expressed her perspective on the matter, noting that circumstances can change for actors as their personal lives evolve.
Reflecting on her experience of working with Padukone before she became a mother, Panday said, “I’ve worked with her before she became a mother, there was no such thing like that. She was working, coming for workshops, no complaints, no asking for anything, and that sort of way. Now she’s a mother and this is what she needs, to kind of be present with her child at a time during the first two years…”
The actress also pointed out that conversations around work-life balance should remain open and flexible within the industry. Drawing an example from Kareena Kapoor Khan, Panday added, “Even Kareena did that, she changed the game for all of the girls coming after her. So I think it’s okay to have a conversation with your producer, to find a balance between it’s a private conversation you must have, and it’s something that can be worked around. There’s no hard and fast rule like, ‘itna hi karenge, itna hi karna hai (will do this much only. Only this much has to be done).’ I think everyone is allowed to have that conversation.”
The discussion also brought in perspectives from other film industries. Actor Kalyani Priyadarshan spoke about the long working hours typically followed in the Malayalam film industry. Sharing her experience, she said, “In the Malayalam industry, we work for 16 hours. It has just been shifted to 12 hours and I think it’s a huge win for the industry. But yes, usually we start off at 6 AM and continue till 9:30 PM – everyday and there are no Sundays off”.
Kalyani further explained that filmmaking often demands flexibility due to the unpredictable nature of the creative process. However, she also acknowledged the importance of supporting structured schedules when possible, noting that when actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan insist on working within specific hours, it can help the industry adapt with the intention of completing work within those limits.
As conversations around work culture continue to evolve in the entertainment industry, the debate around reasonable working hours—especially for actors balancing personal responsibilities—remains an important and ongoing discussion.
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