Actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have voiced their support for Deepika Padukone’s demand for more structured working hours in the film industry. Discussion around the demand for an eight-hour workday has gained momentum over the past few months, with many industry insiders sharing their views on it.

in an interview with Hollywood Reporter IndiaKareena Kapoor Khan addressed the issue by highlighting the importance of communication and planning between actors and producers. He explained his approach during filming The Buckingham Murders. The actress said that she has made it clear to the producers that she will have to return to her children while shooting in London, with Saif Ali Khan taking care of them during her absence.

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Kareena Kapoor’s opinion on fixed working hours

Kareena believes that actors should clarify their availability and needs before a project begins.

She insisted, “If you’re married and have kids, and as a woman, if you don’t want to put in that much time, you should be able to say this is what I want. I can work so many hours. I think it’s totally okay to say that before the movie starts. You have to be honest.”

“Of course, there can be some bad days because there’s no way that something won’t go wrong some days. You have to have that openness. Not everything can go according to plan. So there has to be so much flexibility, otherwise it’s very difficult,” she added.

Addressing Deepika’s demand for eight-hour shifts, Kareena said that actors need partners who understand their commitments, as both parents cannot go to work at the same time and leave the children alone. He said, sometimes it comes to the point of making small sacrifices or even saying no to a film.

Ananya remembers working with Deepika

Ananya, 27, also supported Deepika’s stance, citing her experiences working with her.

He said, “I have worked with Deepika and before she became a mother, there was no such thing. She was working, coming for workshops, not complaining and not demanding anything. Now that she is a mother, she needs to be present with her child in the first two years of development. I think it is okay to have a conversation with your producer to strike a balance. It is something that can be worked around.”

Kalyani Priyadarshan on regional differences

Actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, who was part of the discussion, said that the earlier 16-hour work shift in the Malayalam film industry has now been reduced to 12 hours. He said that cinema cannot be limited to six hours as many things have to happen in a single day.

How did the demand for 8-hour workday gain momentum?

The news of Deepika reportedly walking out of major projects drew attention to the issue. In May 2025, she reportedly walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas’s film Soul According to reports, he had demanded profit share and eight-hour work shifts, which the director did not like. Later Trupti Dimri was announced as the heroine of the film.

Later in 2025, similar circumstances reportedly led to the actor not being a part of Kalki 2898 AD Sequel. These incidents sparked debate over whether actors should have set working hours in the film industry.