The departure of Deepika Padukone from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's "Spirit," allegedly due to disagreements over working hours, has stirred a significant debate within the Hindi film industry. While some industry figures support Padukone's request for an eight-hour workday, others view the situation as more nuanced. Actor Ram Kapoor has weighed in on the controversy, sharing his perspective on balancing work demands and personal well-being in the entertainment industry.
Kapoor acknowledged the debate surrounding Padukone's exit and the broader issue of working conditions in Bollywood. He emphasized the importance of feeling fortunate and avoiding complaints, given the opportunities and financial rewards that success in the industry can bring. "I am going to complain about long hours? I should go slap myself in the bathroom," Kapoor stated, underscoring his belief that actors should recognize their privileged position. He recounted his own experiences, including instances during the shooting of "Mistry" where he and director Rishabh slept very little for days, yet he felt he had no right to complain.
Kapoor suggested that actors who have achieved a certain level of success have the right to set their terms, including working hours. He recalled that early in his career, while working in television, he limited his workdays to eight hours because of the demanding, non-stop nature of the medium. He contrasted this with film or OTT projects, where longer hours might be necessary to deliver the best possible work. Kapoor also highlighted his ability to take breaks and work on his own terms, stating, "Whenever I want a break, I take a two-month break and go diving in the Maldives, or wherever I like. Whenever I want to work, I work on my terms. And I'm going to complain?".
However, Kapoor also conveyed that his perspective is his own and that others are entitled to their own opinions. He said that he chooses to focus on gratitude rather than grievances, acknowledging the difficulty of achieving success in the entertainment industry. "I just want to stay in a state of happiness where I know how lucky I am. So you don't get into that negative frame of mind of complaining," he explained. "What they are saying, they are right in their own thinking, I'm only saying that I feel very lucky, very blessed, that I have achieved so much in this line, which is very difficult".
Ram Gopal Varma, another prominent filmmaker, has also commented on the situation, suggesting that the controversy has been overblown. He believes that the issue is simply a matter of agreement between two parties, each with the right to state their demands and the other's right to refuse. Varma argued that fixed shift hours for actors are often impractical due to the unpredictable nature of filmmaking, which depends on various factors such as lighting, actor availability, and location.
Other actors, such as Vikrant Massey, have publicly supported Padukone, with Massey stating that as a new mother, she "deserved" an eight-hour workday. Additional celebrities reportedly siding with Deepika include Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, and filmmaker Mani Ratnam. Madhoo Shah stated that if Deepika really wanted to stay in the project she would have. She added that everything in life is a negotiation and one must know their worth.
Ultimately, the debate surrounding Deepika Padukone's exit from "Spirit" and the issue of working hours in Bollywood highlights the ongoing tension between the demands of the industry and the need for sustainable and reasonable working conditions.
