Bollywood Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have thrown their support behind Deepika Padukone’s call for an eight-hour workday, reigniting discussions on reasonable shooting hours and workplace flexibility for actors, especially new mothers.
Deepika’s demand first made headlines in 2025 when she reportedly exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel over shorter shifts and pay terms.
Fellow actresses Kareena and Ananya have now publicly endorsed her stance, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and open communication with producers.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kareena explained how she balanced work with motherhood while shooting for The Buckingham Murders: “If you are married and have children, and as a woman, if you do not want to give that time, you should be able to say that this is what I want. I can work this number of hours.
I think it’s completely fine to say that way before a film starts.” She added that flexibility is key, as unexpected issues inevitably arise on set.
Ananya Panday echoed her sentiments, saying, “Before Deepika became a mother, she worked tirelessly without complaints. Now, she needs to be present for her child in the first two years. It’s perfectly fine to discuss and adjust schedules with producers.”
Deepika has consistently advocated for actor welfare, emphasizing in a November 2025 Harper’s Bazaar India interview that an eight-hour workday is sufficient for mental and physical well-being.
She also called for normalizing support for new mothers on set, including the option to bring children along, rather than treating such accommodations as exceptional.
With Kareena and Ananya lending their voices, the debate on reasonable work hours and support for working mothers in Bollywood continues to gain momentum.