Rani Mukerji reacts to 8-hour work shift debate amid Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit and Kalki sequel, 'Don't do the film, nobody is forcing'

Rani Mukerji on Deepika Padukone row

The debate around Bollywood’s working hours is refusing to die down. After reports claimed Deepika Padukone stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit over her request for an 8-hour work shift, and with her exit from Kalki sequel, opinions have been flying across the industry.

Now, Rani Mukerji has stepped in, sharing her own perspective and it comes straight from personal experience.

Rani Mukerji recalls filming Hichki while balancing motherhood

Speaking to ANI, Rani Mukerji revealed that while filming her 2018 release Hichki, she had to manage shoots with her daughter Adira, who was just 14 months old at the time.

"When I did 'Hichki', Adira was 14 months old, and I was still breastfeeding her, so I had to pump the milk and go in the morning, and I was shooting in a college in town," Rani Mukerji said.

"From my house in the suburbs in Juhu to that place, and the traffic takes about two hours. So I kind of made it a thing where in the morning I would leave at 6:30 after expressing my milk, and I would shoot. My first shot used to be at 8 in the morning and I used to wrap up everything by 12:30-1,” she added.

“My unit and my director, they were so planned that for those 6-7 hours I used to finish my shoot and before the traffic would start in town, I used to be home by 3 o'clock and I did my film like that," she added.

On the larger debate, Rani Mukerji stressed that it all boils down to mutual understanding between actors and producers.

"These things are up in conversation today because maybe people are discussing it outside. But this has been the norm with all professions. I've also done it where I have worked for certain hours.” she said.

“If the producer's okay with it, you go ahead with the film. If the producer's not okay with it, you don't do the film. So it's also a choice. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody," she quoted.

Also read: Varun Dhawan reveals he once started drinking with Maniesh Paul at 7 am on Jug Jugg Jeeyo set: ‘By 2 pm, we were slurring’

FAQs

Q1: What did Rani Mukerji comment on the 8-hour shift debate?
Rani Mukerji discussed her experience during the filming of Hichki, where she managed motherhood with shorter working hours.

Q2: What sparked the 8-hour work shift debate in Bollywood?
The debate gained traction after reports surfaced that Deepika Padukone left Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit due to her request for an 8-hour shift and also her exit from Kalki sequel.

Q3: What was Rani Mukerji’s main point on the issue?
Rani Mukerji emphasized that working hours should be based on choice and mutual agreement, not compulsion.