Isha Koppikar recently spoke about the tough working hours in films and TV during an interview. Their talk comes at a time when many in the industry are discussing long work shifts, especially after Deepika Padukone reportedly asked for an 8-hour workday on films like ‘Spirit’ and the upcoming ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ sequel. In the past year, several stars have shared their views; some agree with the shorter shifts, while others are not so sure.
Isha Koppikar makes a cheeky comment
While talking to comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their YouTube channel, Isha joined a light-hearted conversation that soon took a cheeky turn. Bharti spoke about her interest in joining politics but admitted she wouldn’t have enough time because of her two young kids. Hearing this, Isha smiled and remarked, “But nowadays, you’re expected to give only 8 hours. Those who have children get just 8 hours,” seemingly throwing shade at Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for an 8-hour workday after motherhood. Amused by her comment, Haarsh quickly asked, “Who said that?” prompting Isha to laugh and respond, “I don’t know.”
Isha Koppikar and Bharti Singh discuss harsh work schedules
Bharti was taken aback by Isha’s remark and couldn’t hide her reaction. When the topic shifted to Isha’s own work routine, she explained, “They make you work until you can’t stand,” describing the exhausting nature of her schedule. Haarsh responded with a touch of humour, saying, “Until 15 minutes before you faint.” He then shared a glimpse of their daily grind: “We wake up at 6:30 a.m. and come home at 3 a.m.,” before adding that this happens “just a day in a week.” Bharti quickly noted, “It’s something that can’t be done every day,” to which Isha agreed, saying, “Your body will give up.” Wrapping up the discussion, Haarsh remarked, “It’s impossible. Even those who work in fiction usually do a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift.”
Isha Koppikar recalls hospitalisation after five days of nonstop shoots
Reflecting on her early days in the industry, Isha spoke about a time when back-to-back film shoots pushed her to her limits. She recalled shooting for ‘Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi’ and ‘Right Ya Wrong’ without a proper break, which eventually took a toll on her health. “It was so hectic at that time that I didn’t even have time to go home from Film City, so I asked the producer to organize a place for me to stay there. I used to shoot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day. This cycle repeated for five days, and on the sixth day, I ended up in the hospital,” she said, describing the overwhelming schedule.
Deepika Padukone supports 8-hour workday concept
Addressing her stance on the 8-hour workday, Deepika, in an interview with Brut India, explained why she believes her demand is justified. She said, “I don’t think what I am asking for is ridiculously unfair, and I think only someone who has worked in the system enough will know the conditions that we work in. And I am saying this, if I may say so myself, as a top star, so you can only imagine what the working conditions must be like for everyone else, for the crew, for example.”
Deepika Padukone calls out double standards in the industry
Responding to whether she has ever been tagged as “too difficult” for setting such boundaries, despite them being standard in most professions, Deepika highlighted the double standards within the industry. She explained, “I am not the first one to ask for something like this. In fact, there are a lot of actors, male actors, who have been working on an 8-hour shift for years, and it’s never made headlines,” drawing attention to how differently similar demands are perceived based on gender.
