Deepika Padukone breaks silence on 8-hr work rule: ‘Men do it too, but it never...’

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has finally broken her silence over the ongoing chatter surrounding her reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the sequel to Prabhas’ ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.

Reports suggest that the actress stepped away from both projects after requesting fixed 8-hour working shifts, a move that has sparked industry-wide debate.

Deepika Speaks Out on Double Standards

In a recent conversation, the ‘Fighter’ actress addressed the speculation, saying, “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines!”

She further added that several male actors follow a structured routine, working Monday to Friday and taking weekends off, yet such practices never draw criticism. Without naming anyone, Deepika hinted at the gendered lens through which professionalism is often perceived.

Must Read: Kalki 2898 AD Sequel: Is Sai Pallavi stepping into Deepika Padukone’s role?

The Controversy So Far

Last month, the Kalki 2898 AD producers officially announced Deepika’s exit, stating that the decision was mutual after ‘careful consideration’. Soon after, she was also replaced by ‘Animal’ fame actress Triptii Dimri in Spirit, also starring Tollywood superstar Prabhas.

Later, Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, without naming Deepika, appeared to respond indirectly on social media, criticising what he described as ‘dirty PR games’.

Despite the controversy, Deepika’s stance has been widely praised for highlighting the double standards faced by women in the film industry.