Very subjective: Rakul Preet Singh on Deepika Padukone’s 8 hours working controversy
Rakul Preet Singh has addressed the ongoing 8-hour shift debate in Bollywood, saying that working hours should depend on an actor’s lifestyle and personal preferences. He stressed that “there can’t be one rule for anyone” and cited examples from Amitabh Bachchan to 90s stars like Ajay Devgan and Akshay Kumar.
The debate over work-life balance in the film industry has intensified in recent months, following reports that Deepika Padukone asked for 8-hour work shifts after becoming a mother, which reportedly led to her walking out of major films like ‘Spirit’ and ‘Kalki 2’. Many celebrities have shared their views on the matter, and now Rakul Preet Singh has also joined the conversation, saying that there cannot be a single rule for everyone and every actor has the right to decide their work hours depending on their stage of life.
talking to Siddharth KannanRakul said that work schedule varies with age, experience and personal preferences. “I think working hours are very subjective to where you are in your life right now. How you were at 16, how you are not at 25, how you are at 35, etc. So there is never a rule for anyone. You can’t expect Amitabh ji to work 14 hours a day. (You wouldn’t expect Amitabh ji to work 14 hours a day, right?). So it’s a lot. Subjective.”
He further emphasized that individuals should have the freedom to make choices based on family responsibilities and personal potential. She said, “Every person has the right to decide, at this stage of my life, how much time I want to give to my family, or how many hours I want to work. And if I can’t do more than that, then unfortunately I have to leave work. Everyone has the right to decide how much work they want to do.”
Rakul also reflected on how priorities change over time, especially for actors who have spent years working long hours in the early stages of their careers. “I am sure people who work 8 hours a day today have worked a lot earlier. They have also worked 48 hours continuously. Like Ajay sir, Akshay sir, in the 90s, they used to go from one film set to another. They would wear the same jeans and only change their shirts. That used to happen too. And now they have reached the point where they can decide how much work they want to do. So you change with time and with where you are in life. Let’s do it.”
On the work front, Rakul recently reprized the role of Ayesha Khurana in ‘De De Pyaar De 2’, the sequel to her 2019 hit. Directed by Anshul Sharma, the romantic comedy follows the Khurana family as they face the challenges of accepting their daughter’s relationship with an older man. The film also stars Ajay Devgan, Javed Jaffrey, R. Madhavan, Meezaan Jaffrey and Gautami Kapoor.
‘De De Pyaar De 2’ has been released On 14 November 2025.
