The debate over fixed working hours in Indian cinema has escalated ever since reports suggested that Deepika Padukone stepped away from Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD after requesting an 8-hour workday. The topic has now prompted candid responses from Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati, and producer Archana Kalapathi, each offering a perspective shaped by their own professional landscapes.
Dulquer recalls culture shock when he entered Telugu cinema
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Dulquer Salmaan reflected on the stark difference in work patterns he encountered when he moved between industries.
He shared, “In Malayalam, you just keep going, and you don’t know when you’ll finish. But it would’ve been a great, gruelling, hard day. When I did my first Telugu film (Mahanati in 2018), it was the first time in my acting career that by six I could go home. It was starkly different from shooting in Tamil, where second Sundays are off. I remember thinking that when I produce, I would do it differently. But there’s not much you can do. Going extra hours on a day is cheaper than shooting an additional day.”Dulquer admitted that while he once believed he could bring change as a producer, the financial realities of filmmaking eventually override such intentions.
Archana Kalpathi highlights financial constraints
Producer Archana Kalpathi weighed in, supporting the belief that a corporate-style schedule simply does not align with the filmmaking process.She reiterated that a standard 9-to-5 approach is “not possible” in the film industry, and pointed out how OTT platforms have helped instil some much-needed discipline by enforcing delivery timelines.Archana also noted that the interest burden on mega-budget films is so significant that producers often end up shooting on holidays to keep costs from ballooning.
Rana Daggubati: filmmaking doesn’t operate like an office
Rana Daggubati offered one of the most straightforward takes in the discussion. After laughing off the question initially, he elaborated on why the concept of an 8-hour shift is incompatible with the craft.He explained, “This is not a job, it’s a lifestyle. You either choose to be in it or not. Each film will govern and ask for something else. It’s not a factory. It’s not like we sit for eight hours and the best scene is going to come out.”Rana’s view echoes what many technicians and actors have repeatedly stated — that film sets are governed by creative demands rather than fixed working hours.
Recent collaborations and future line-up
Rana and Dulquer, who recently starred in and jointly produced Kaantha under Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media, saw the film open to positive reviews though it underperformed commercially.Dulquer’s upcoming projects include Aakasamlo Oka Tara in Telugu and I’m Game in Malayalam, while Rana is preparing for his next release, the Tamil film Parasakthi.
