As conversations around healthier work environments gain traction in the industry, after Deepika Padukone, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’ row, actors R. Madhavan and Vikrant Massey have shared their perspectives on the importance of flexible yet fair working hours in the film industry. For those not in the know, reports suggested that Deepika demanded for an eight hour shift for Prabhas starrer ‘Spirit’ and that wasn’t suitable to Vanga. As these reports emerged, there’s been a debate around the working hours in the industry as many actors have reflected on it.In an interview with First Post, R Madhavan said, “If I am doing something that I am passionate about and I love something, then time doesn’t matter. It should be a choice. Nobody can force you to work less or more,” he said. At the same time, he acknowledged the need for professional responsibility. “There has to be a certain number of hours, and you should be well aware that your requirements shouldn’t be detrimental to the project and the budget of the film. That is very essential.”
He further stressed the need for clarity before work even begins. “Right at the beginning of the project, one should be clear that I want to work for only these many hours. And if that is acceptable to people, then it’s fine,” Madhavan said. According to him, imposing fixed hours can sometimes hamper creative flow. “Making a certain number of hours of work affects creativity. It’s very personal, and there is nothing right or wrong. If anybody takes the decision to work for certain hours, should do it with the economy in place.”On the other hand, ’12th Fail’ actor Vikrant Massey supported a more structured approach—specifically, the idea of an eight-hour workday, a model recently associated with Deepika Padukone following the birth of her child. “I aspire to do something like that very soon. Maybe in a couple of years… I want to go out and say, we can collaborate, but I would only work for eight hours,” Massey said.He was quick to acknowledge the practical implications such a decision carries. “But at the same time, it should be a choice. And if my producer cannot accommodate that, because there are also a lot of other things involved when you are making a film…” he trailed off, pointing to the complex logistics of production.Still, Massey didn’t shy away from the financial trade-offs. “Money plays a very important role, and I will have to reduce my fees as I will be working for eight hours instead of twelve. If I cannot give my producer twelve hours a day, I cannot go out there and not reduce my fee. I ought to reduce my fee. It’s a give-and-take, right?” he said, adding in support of Padukone, “And as a young mother, I think Deepika deserves it.”
