‘Workaholic’ Madhuri stands by Deepika's eight-hour shift stance
The debate over eight-hour workdays on film sets has intensified after new mom Deepika Padukone stepped away from high-profile projects like Kalki 2898 AD and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, advocating for a healthier work-life balance.
Deepika, who has long championed better working conditions in Bollywood, has taken an even firmer stance following the birth of her daughter, Dua.
Now, veteran actress Madhuri Dixit has shared her perspective on the issue, reflecting on her own experiences in the film industry.
Speaking to ANI, Madhuri revealed that when she was at the peak of her career in the 1990s, actors had little concept of work-life balance.
Even today, while working on her upcoming project Mrs Deshpande, Madhuri admitted to enduring gruelling 12-hour shifts – or sometimes longer.
“The thing is that when we did Mrs Deshpande, we were working 12-hour shifts every day, like maybe more sometimes. So, I think to each his own. I’m a workaholic,” she said candidly.
However, Madhuri expressed support for Deepika’s right to set her own boundaries.
“So for me, maybe it’s different, but if a woman has that power and can say, ‘Okay, I want to work these many hours,’ then that’s her prerogative, and that’s her life, and that’s how she wants to do it. Then more power to her,” Madhuri added.
Madhuri’s comments come amid broader discussions in the industry about working conditions and the pressures faced by actors, especially women, who juggle demanding schedules with personal responsibilities.
Madhuri Dixit, who married US-based Dr Shriram Nene in 1999, stepped away from Bollywood to settle in the United States, where her husband practised as a cardiac surgeon.
She gradually returned to Indian cinema with 2007’s Aaja Nachle and later participated as a judge on several reality shows. Over time, the family relocated to India, and Dr Nene transitioned from cardiology to a career in medical-tech entrepreneurship.