Deepika Padukone Opens Up About Motherhood and Acting
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has intensified the discussion surrounding an eight-hour workday for actors in the film industry. This is after her reported withdrawal from major projects like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. In a recent conversation with Harper’s Bazaar India, Padukone championed the eight-hour limit as an ideal work structure and called for significantly improved support systems for mothers returning to the professional sphere.
When asked if motherhood has changed her viewpoint, Deepika replied, “One hundred per cent. Every cliché is true. When mothers say, ‘You’ll understand when you become one,’ it’s true. I have so much more respect for my mother now.”
The actor, who welcomed her first child, Dua Padukone Singh, in September 2024, spoke of the disconnect between planning for work-life balance and the reality of parenting. “You can plan how you think you’ll navigate work and motherhood, but the reality is very different. I feel strongly about how new mothers need to be supported when they return to work. That’s something I want to focus on.”
She elaborated on her preference for a contained workday and said the industry often mistakes overwork for commitment. "We've normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you're healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one."
Padukone shared her own company's ethos as an example: “In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies. We should normalise bringing children to work.”
Deepika Padukone's stand on work hours became news earlier this year when she reportedly walked out of two major films.
In May 2024, ahead of her daughter's birth, there were reports about her leaving Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film Spirit. As per the reports, the reason behind the separation was the actor's demand to share profits and get an eight-hour shift daily. After the reported demands from her side, Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga reportedly replaced her with Triptii Dimri, who will now be seen romancing Prabhas.
A few months later, in September 2024, the actor was also reportedly dropped from the sequel to Nag Ashwin’s blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD. Vyjayanthi Movies formally announced her non-involvement via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), which read: “This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. And a film like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and much more.”
Following the official statement, media speculation declared that the actress's demands, which reportedly included a 25% pay hike, five-star accommodation for her entire team, and a seven-hour workday, were the reasons for the fallout.
