The elephant in the room was unambiguously pointed out by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. Finally, after moving out of the two gigantic projects, Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, she got the opportunity to tell her version of the story regarding the saga of her trying to get fixed hours. And what she said was so striking that it started a discussion among the people.
The Main Reason for Deepika Padukone Leaving
Deepika Padukone took the decision to quit Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the two sequels of Kalki 2898 AD in the first half of this year. The rumor was that the actress was looking for 8-hour working days. Then people began to speak. Critics came forward. The social media reactions were extreme.
However, there was one thing that no one brought up – in the past, plenty of male actors have been through this very situation and nothing made the news.
What Deepika Padukone Actually Said?
In an interview with CNBC TV18, she was completely open. She was very straightforward in her message. If asking for reasonable hours makes her look like a woman who is pushing her way through, she is ok with that.
The actress noticed that what she said was exactly the opposite of reality. There had been male stars who worked the whole day for 8 hours and their names were never dragged into such cases. No one wrote articles about it. No one created drama. Also, these actors usually follow the Monday to Friday work schedules. They take weekends off. It’s been going on forever.
She made it clear she won’t name anyone to turn this into a bigger mess. But everyone in the business knows which actors follow these schedules.
Why This Double Standard Exists
Deepika Padukone pointed out the inequity that women encounter in the movie industry. It is very common if male counterparts decide to define their limits, however, if she acts the same way it becomes the talk of the town.
Removing the mask of the official business in the Bollywood industry seemed to be a good reason to support this claim. The situation is very chaotic and the order one finds in other professional areas does not prevail in the film industry.
The actress has been in similar situations in the past. She has faced a lot of battles regarding fair treatment through her career and this one’s decision is public when she prefers to be silent.
The Real Reason Behind Her Decision
Deepika Padukone wanted a better work-life balance after becoming a mother to her daughter Dua. That is fully understandable. She asked if she could conditionally limit her hours so she could be with her child.
When the Spirit team couldn’t accommodate her, she decided to quit. The same scenario transpired with the sequel of Kalki 2898 AD. The studio said they couldn’t find a collaboration that was acceptable for both parties.
However, the point is that she is not demanding anything outrageous. She only requires that which is available to the majority of male actors. Fixed hours. Time for family. Basic things.
How The Industry Responded
The producers of Kalki 2898 AD put out a statement last month. They said a big film needs serious commitment. They wished her well but made it sound like she wasn’t committed enough.
Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga posted something on social media that seemed aimed at her. He looked disappointed about how things went down. Actress Triptii Dimri got cast in her place for Spirit.
But not everyone took shots at her. Some people in the business backed her up. Director Hansal Mehta defended her and also pushed for better work structures in films and TV.
What This Means For Bollywood
This whole situation shows how the film world treats men and women differently. Standards that are fine for male actors suddenly become problems when women ask for them.
Deepika Padukone’s been in the business long enough to know how it works. She’s done huge hits throughout her career. She’s proven herself over and over. But even someone at her level faces pushback for wanting normal working conditions.
The actress said she’s okay with people coming at her for speaking up. She’s not backing down from what she believes is right.
Moving Forward
Even though Deepika Padukone discarded those two projects, she has already begun work on her upcoming movie. The film called King is a collaboration between her and Shah Rukh Khan. This is their sixth collaboration and they have already shared a picture of the first day of shooting where Deepika is seen holding Shah’s hand.
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The Bottom Line
Deepika Padukone’s outspokenness is a plus because it reveals problems existing in the entire entertainment industry. A woman should not have to battle for the same treatment as men every time.
Her argument was very clear – the male actors are working 8 hours and nobody says a thing. She requests the same and all of a sudden she is being difficult. This does not make sense.
The argument opened up a larger discussion about the necessity of changing ways in the business. Perhaps now more individuals will start wondering about the origin of these double standards.
