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Anurag Basu supports Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand: ‘I want my actors to be happy on set'

Anurag Basu supports Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand: ‘I want my actors to be happy on set'

Time of India09-07-2025
Deepika Padukone
's decision to step away from
Sandeep Reddy Vanga
's much-awaited film 'Spirit' has stirred quite a debate in Bollywood circles. The actor's reported demand for an 8-hour work shift has not only sparked conversations around healthy working hours in the industry but also received wide support from her peers.
Now, director
Anurag Basu
has stepped in to support Deepika's demand for an 8-hour work shift.
'I absolutely agree with what Deepika Padukone had to say'
Speaking to Firstpost, Anurag Basu shared his thoughts on Deepika's demand for shorter working hours. The filmmaker said, 'I also don't like long-hour shifts at work. My actors never complain about long hours or stress at work. So, I absolutely agree with what Deepika Padukone had to say. It's a film; I never give my actors a chance to complain about this.'
Anurag also spoke about how he likes to work on his films. 'I want my actors to be very happy on set and know their character well. I don't give too much information to them before the shoot begins. Let them discover their roles, and this is the method I have been following for ages,' he added.
Why Deepika left 'Spirit'
Deepika was earlier in talks to star opposite Prabhas in 'Spirit', directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. But after her reported exit, rumours started flying about why she chose to leave.
As per multiple reports, Deepika wanted an 8-hour workday, a share in the film's profits, and did not want to deliver her dialogues in Telugu. These requests apparently did not go down well with the director. In the end, Triptii Dimri was brought in to replace her.
A debate that got big support
Deepika's demand found support from many actors. Stars like
Sonakshi Sinha
, Neha Dhupia, and
Vikrant Massey
also spoke up, backing the idea of an 8-hour workday.
Anurag Basu's '
Metro... In Dino
'
Anurag Basu is currently enjoying praise for his latest film 'Metro... In Dino'. The musical romantic drama is a spiritual sequel to his 2007 film 'Life in a... Metro'. It features a star cast with Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta,
Konkona Sen Sharma
, Pankaj Tripathi,
Aditya Roy Kapur
, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film brings together four different love stories set across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. It looks at modern romance, heartbreak, second chances, and how people grow emotionally.
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