Deepika Padukone’s call for humane work hours has once again stirred a long simmering conversation in the Hindi film industry, but this time, the support is coming from two very different corners of the star spectrum. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have both spoken up in favour of clear, pre decided boundaries on set, especially for actors navigating marriage and motherhood.
The discussion has gained traction in recent days after Padukone’s widely circulated remarks advocating an eight hour workday and better conditions for new mothers. While film sets are notorious for marathon schedules, the actresses’ comments signal a growing willingness among leading women to treat time as a non negotiable part of the contract, not an emotional negotiation.
What Kareena Kapoor Khan And Ananya Panday Said About Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour Shifts
Speaking for a Women in Entertainment cover feature, Kareena Kapoor Khan stressed that expectations should be communicated at the start of a project. “I think that it should be clarified beforehand,” she said, adding, “If you are married and have children, you should be able to say this is what I want. I can work this number of hours.”
Ananya Panday, who has previously shared screen space with Padukone, framed the conversation as a practical recalibration after motherhood. “Now she’s a mother and this is what she needs,” Panday said, before underlining that such discussions should happen directly with makers. “So, I think it’s okay to have a conversation with your producer, to find a balance between it’s a private conversation you must have, and it’s something that can be worked around.”
The renewed spotlight comes alongside Padukone’s earlier push for industry wide change. In an interview excerpt that circulated widely, she argued that long shifts are often glorified at the cost of well being, saying, “We’ve normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind… Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one.” She also urged better support systems for working mothers and said bringing children to film sets should be normalised.
Deepika Padukone’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Padukone had a packed run in recent years, featuring in Pathaan (2023) and making a special appearance in Jawan (2023). In 2024, she starred in Fighter alongside Hrithik Roshan, appeared in Nag Ashwin’s sci fi epic Kalki 2898 AD with Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan, and joined Rohit Shetty’s cop universe in Singham Again.
As of March 2026, her next confirmed theatrical is King, which is in the public domain as a 2026 title, with Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan attached.
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