Deepika Padukone has once again sparked an important conversation in Bollywood — this time about the glaring double standards that women in the industry face.
Her recent comments on fair working conditions have gone viral, coinciding with an old video of Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh resurfacing online, which perfectly highlights her point.
The clip, from The Kapil Sharma Show during promotions for Housefull, shows Abhishek joking about Akshay’s famously disciplined work routine.
He says with a laugh, “Pack up hote hi, most excited person, Akshay Kumar. Aath (eight) ghante se zyada kaam nahi karte hain yeh. Subah saath (seven) baje aayenge set pe… turant meter chaalu.” Riteish playfully adds, “Time starts now,” while Abhishek continues, “Aath ghante maane beech shot main kapde utre, make up nikal ke aajayenge.”
Fans found the timing uncanny — the clip went viral just days after Deepika reportedly stepped away from Spirit and Kalki 2, allegedly because she chose to work only eight-hour shifts after becoming a mother.
While her decision sparked debate, many pointed out that male stars have done the same for years without any controversy.
In a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, Deepika addressed the issue head-on. “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars in the Indian film industry, have been working for 8 hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”
She added, “I don’t want to take names now and make this into this whole thing, but it’s very commonly, publicly known about a lot of male actors who have been working for 8 hours for years. A lot of them work only 8 hours Monday to Friday; they do not work on weekends.”
Speaking to Brut, Deepika went on to explain that she’s simply asking for better structure and organisation in the industry. “I don’t think what I’m asking for (better working conditions) is ridiculously unfair,” she said, adding that Bollywood has long functioned in a disorganised way and that it’s time for change.
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