Ram Madhvani supports Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour workday request: “I want my people to go home too”
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As discussions continue in the film industry around Deepika Padukone’s reported request for an 8-hour workday, filmmaker Ram Madhvani has stepped forward to defend the actress, offering a balanced take that contrasts with the criticism she’s faced, particularly from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Madhvani — known for films like Neerja and the web series Aarya — responded to whether Deepika’s post-motherhood work schedule was an unreasonable ask.
“No,” he replied, plainly.
“Personally, I think that everybody should work a certain number of hours. If somebody says upfront, ‘I can only give these many hours,’ then that is only fair. I would like my people to go home. I want to give them lunch breaks on time, dinner on time, and I want them to sleep.”
Madhvani emphasised that working within time constraints is not new for him. In fact, he prefers a structured schedule.
“If it's a 12-hour day then it's a 12-hour day. If it's a 10-hour day, then it's a 10-hour day. If the actress is there for 8 hours, then I have to make sure yes, I'm working within those 8 hours.”
The director also highlighted the collaborative spirit of filmmaking, especially between a director and an actor. “I am nobody without my actor. I come from advertising, so if you're giving me that much time, I'm prepared. I respect it.”
The conversation around working hours gained momentum after reports claimed Deepika Padukone had opted out of Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit over disagreements about her schedule. While Vanga did not name her directly, he seemed to take a veiled dig at her in a widely circulated post. He later announced Triptii Dimri as the film’s new lead.
Madhvani’s remarks are part of a broader wave of support within the film community for more empathetic and balanced work environments. Industry figures like Mani Ratnam, Ajay Devgn, and Pankaj Tripathi have also endorsed the idea of respecting professional boundaries and creating healthier work conditions.
