Deepika Padukone has finally addressed the rumours surrounding her exit from Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD, two of the biggest projects she was set to star in alongside Prabhas. Her departure sparked widespread speculation, with reports claiming the actor had requested an eight-hour work limit following motherhood , a demand that allegedly didn’t sit well with the production teams.
In a candid interview with CNBC-TV18, Deepika opened up about the backlash, calling out gender bias in the industry and questioning why similar work conditions for male superstars are never criticised. She also called Bollywood “very disorganised” and in need of reform.
Deepika told CNBC-TV18 that the pushback she’s facing has a clear gender angle.
“By virtue of being a woman if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it,” she said. “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 Monday to Friday, they do not work on weekends.”
Deepika has been clear: her demands are neither new nor radical. “I have done this at many levels; this is not new to me. I think, even as far as pay is concerned, I have had to deal with whatever comes with it,” she said. “I don’t even know what to call it, but I am someone who has always fought my battles silently. And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public which is not the way I know and not the way I’ve been brought up. But yes, to fight my battles silently and in a dignified way is the way I know.”
She also didn’t mince words about the system she’s operating in. Deepika called the Indian film industry “very disorganised” and said it’s high time structure was introduced. What this really means is: she wants clarity in contracts, working hours that are respected, and norms that protect well-being — especially for women and new mothers.
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To critics who say she’s being “unreasonable,” Deepika counters that what’s reasonable is being discounted due to her gender. She argues that what’s treated as standard for male actors is being framed as “special treatment” when a woman asks for it. Her point: there’s a double standard.
Her statements have stirred reactions. Some industry figures have come out in support.
Director Shoojit Sircar, for example, said that an actor’s personal and professional boundaries deserve respect. Others are more critical, citing logistical and financial pressures in big-budget films. But no matter where one stands, Deepika has drawn a sharp line: she refuses to be silent anymore.
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