Amrita Puri, known for her role in ‘Aisha’, has come out in support of Deepika Padukone‘s demand for an 8-hour workday in Bollywood. The actress shared her own experiences, saying she has worked very long shifts—sometimes 16 hours or even through the night—without receiving extra pay. Amrita completely backed Deepika, saying she raised a very important issue affecting many people in the film industry.
Amrita Puri backs Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour work demand
In a conversation with Rediff, Amrita Puri opened up about the buzz surrounding Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for an 8-hour workday, saying the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. She pointed out that if a male actor had made the exact same demand, people’s response would have been completely different. “There are times where I have done 16 hour shifts or all-nighters, you know. And I have not got paid for it, which is problematic, right? If you go beyond your 12 hours and are not paid. I think Deepika has brought up a very important issue. I think that she is being overly scrutinized. The thing with this whole Deepika thing is, I promise you, if it was a man, it wouldn’t be in the papers,” she said.
Amrita Puri calls out gender bias in the industry
She also pointed out that many male actors in the industry already have fixed working hours written into their contracts, but nobody ever discusses it. She said the same demand is being treated very differently just because it came from a woman. “I know of a male actor who is extremely successful commercially, who has had that 8-hour clause in their contract for years. Nobody talks about it. It is a patriarchal system that has blown this out of proportion,” she said.Amrita also raised a valid point, questioning why anyone would object to a new mother asking for a little support. She said it is completely understandable for Deepika to want to keep working and stay active in her career instead of taking a step back. “And what is wrong if someone who is a new mother is asking for a little help? To be like I want to be able to act, I want to be part of the career force. I don’t want to sit at home,” she said.
How Deepika Padukone’s demand sparked a wider debate
Last year, Deepika Padukone was at the center of a storm when news broke of her exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga‘s ‘Spirit’. Reports claimed the director had not received her demands well; among the conditions she reportedly put forward after becoming a mother was a request for an 8-hour workday on set. Not long after, her rumored departure from the ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ sequel also caught everyone’s attention, keeping her in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
