The entertainment industry is currently buzzing with discussions around work hours, sparked by reports of Deepika Padukone's decision to step away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film "Spirit" due to disagreements over her request for a strict 8-hour shift. Amidst this, filmmaker Farah Khan, who launched Padukone in "Om Shanti Om," shared her perspective on the matter during a recent vlog featuring actress Radhika Madan.
In the vlog, Khan and Madan discussed the transition of television actors to films, which led to the topic of working hours. Madan recounted her early days in television, revealing that she used to work "56 hours non-stop or 48 hours non-stop". Khan responded to Madan's revelation with the comment, “Sona aise hi tapta hai”. This translates to "This is how gold is forged," implying that hard work and long hours are essential for achieving success.
Khan's comment has been widely interpreted as a subtle disagreement with Padukone's demand for a more limited 8-hour shift. Many see it as a suggestion that such a schedule might not be conducive to the demands of the industry and the pursuit of excellence.
However, sources close to Padukone have offered a different explanation for her departure from "Spirit". According to these sources, Padukone's decision was not solely based on the disagreement over work hours. Instead, she was offered a role in Atlee's upcoming film with Allu Arjun, which she preferred. Faced with the impossibility of committing to both projects, Padukone chose to opt out of "Spirit," citing differences of opinion on fees, work hours, and other factors.
Farah Khan has been a prominent figure in Bollywood for over 40 years. She debuted as a choreographer in 1992 with "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" and has directed successful films such as "Main Hoon Na," "Om Shanti Om," "Tees Maar Khan," and "Happy New Year". Radhika Madan shared that she felt very safe in front of the camera and that within two days of a look test, she was shooting for her first show.