Producer Anand Pandit says, “It’s time to work smarter, not longer” amid 8-hour shift debate 8 : Bollywood News

There was a time when actors worked back-to-back shifts and often forgot the names of the characters they were playing. Much has changed since then. A superstar today focuses on work-life balance with regulated early morning shifts, while young mother Deepika Padukone is reportedly pushing for an eight-hour workday.

Producer Anand Pandit says, “It’s time to work smarter, not longer” amid 8-hour shift debate

Veteran producer Anand Pandit believes the debate over an eight-hour shift is unnecessary. As he puts it, "Many leading stars are known to work in a very regulated way and I believe it is a good approach. It’s time to work smarter, not longer. A pragmatic approach towards filmmaking and managing large-scale productions is the need of the hour. Better planning, mutual respect, and smarter work practices on set will benefit everyone. We must move beyond the idea that 14-hour or even longer shifts are more conducive to creative excellence."

The “longer hours equals better output” mindset is obsolete, he says and adds, "Filmmaking at its core is a creative medium and there may be times when a shift extends due to unforeseen reasons. A hybrid model with exceptions for complicated scenes can also be followed. Stringent time-management on sets is otherwise a very good practice that the South-Indian industries have been following forever."

Shorter shifts could also lead to a rotation-based system, opening up more roles for crew and technicians. "Creating a culture where time is valued and work-life balance is protected will not only lead to happier crews but better films," he concluded.

Also Read: Anand Pandit reflects on cinema’s enduring appeal in the age of OTT platforms: “OTT offers content, but theatres offer larger-than-life experiences”