Supriya Pathak Supports Deepika Padukone On Structured Bollywood Work Hours

Veteran actor Supriya Pathak has lent her voice to the ongoing conversation in Bollywood surrounding structured working hours, expressing support for Deepika Padukone and her reported demand for eight-hour shifts on film sets. The debate has sparked wider discussions about work-life balance and professional practices in the Hindi film industry.

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Pathak stressed the importance of actors having sufficient time to prepare for their roles and deliver convincing performances. “As an actor, I am the one facing the audience. And when you face an audience, you need to be prepared. If you don't give me the time to prepare myself, how will I face them? So I think it's very important that actors, whether male or female, are given the time to prepare,” she said.

Pathak also highlighted the broader challenges women face in balancing multiple responsibilities. According to her, women often juggle numerous roles simultaneously, making structured working hours even more critical. “I feel our brains are thinking about twenty things at the same time, while a man's brain often focuses on one thing. Their challenges are different, ours are different, which is why we need balance,” she explained.

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Reflecting on women’s inner strength and empowerment, Pathak added that women inherently possess the capability to achieve anything they set their minds to. However, she believes external encouragement is sometimes needed to help women recognize and harness that power. “I believe women are empowered within themselves. Sometimes we just don't ignite that power. But if we get even a small spark, we can become a very powerful firecracker,” she said.

The debate around Deepika’s work schedule gained prominence earlier this year after she reportedly exited the film Spirit due to differences with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga over her demands, which included eight-hour work shifts, higher pay, and profit sharing. Her stance is seen as part of her efforts to maintain better work-life balance after motherhood.

Several other actors, including Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday, have also expressed support for the principle, noting that performers should be able to discuss work schedules and personal commitments with producers openly. Deepika is now set to appear in upcoming projects, including King and director Atlee’s next collaboration with Allu Arjun.

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