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News18
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Banita Sandhu BACKS Deepika Padukone's Stance On Work Hours: 'Basic Human Rights Shouldn't...'
Last Updated: Banita Sandhu opens up on toxic film industry work hours, 24-hour shoots, and why she believes standing up for humane conditions is worth the risk. As the industry continues to buzz over Deepika Padukone's alleged demand for an 8-hour workday on Spirit, the conversation around mental health and working conditions in Bollywood is finally gaining momentum. Joining the chorus of voices advocating for reform is actor Banita Sandhu, who in a recent interview with SCREEN delivered a heartfelt critique of the industry's exploitative practices—drawing from personal experiences that left her physically and emotionally exhausted. Banita, best known for her poignant debut in Shoojit Sircar's October, revealed she once endured 16-18 hour shoot days while working on a Hindi film early in her career. What's more shocking is that, according to her, producers deliberately planned her schedule in a way that denied her rest. 'I would shoot the entire day and then be on a flight at night. I didn't sleep for 24 hours straight," she recalled. 'At the time, I didn't know any better. I thought this was just the way things worked." But something didn't sit right with her. And unlike many young actors who choose to stay silent for fear of losing work, Banita took a stand—not just for herself, but for the entire crew. 'I stood up to the producers and told them that this is not okay. Maybe I'm blacklisted now, but I don't care," she said, unapologetically. 'I just believe in standing up for what's right." The price for that integrity may have been steep, but Banita wears it like armour. 'It's basic human rights we're talking about. Everyone—whether you're an actor or a light boy—deserves rest, dignity, and care." In the same breath, Banita highlighted the stark contrast she observed while working in international projects such as Eternal Beauty and Season 3 of Bridgerton. She praised the strong union culture in Hollywood that fiercely protects not just actors, but every member of the cast and crew. 'In the West, there are strict rules. We have 12-hour turnovers, mandatory rest periods, and proper contracts. It's not a free-for-all," she explained. 'I've always been a firm believer in those standards. We're not at war—we're making movies. Nothing, not even art, should cost people their health." While she acknowledges that things in Bollywood are 'slowly getting better," Banita stresses that reform is still needed—especially to protect young talent who might be too afraid to speak out. 'If I had known what I know now, I would have spoken up even earlier. But in that moment, it felt like the only option was to grind through it." Despite her past experience, Banita is not closing the door on Bollywood. In fact, she hopes to embrace more commercial films—on her own terms. 'I'd love to do a full-on Bollywood movie, with songs and dancing. That's what I grew up watching," she said, her eyes lighting up. 'People don't know, but I used to dance a lot as a kid. It would be a dream to have one of my own songs someday." She's also returning to the Indian screen soon, playing a key role in Detective Sherdil, Zee5's upcoming murder mystery alongside Diljit Dosanjh, Boman Irani, Diana Penty, and Sumeet Vyas. While the film marks a return to home turf, Banita is doing it her way—with a firm resolve to not compromise on the principles that matter. First Published: June 19, 2025, 18:23 IST
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Banita Sandhu supports Deepika Padukone, says she was ‘blacklisted' by a film industry for speaking up against 18-hour work shift: ‘I stood up for myself'
Actor Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga's recent Spirit controversy has stirred a discussion in the film industry. With several celebs speaking up in support or against the actor's 8-hour work shift demand, October actor Banita Sandhu is the latest one to weigh in on the matter. In an interview with SCREEN, the actor recalled she stood against the producers as they made her work 16-18 hour shifts for a film, after which she might have been 'blacklisted' from the industry. She also revealed that on the contrary, there are many unions to support actors and crew in Hollywood. Banita, who has worked in a bunch Hollywood projects (Eternal Beauty (2019), Bridgerton Season 3) earlier, said that they have strict work hours in Hollywood. 'It's so important. One thing that we have in the West is really strong unions. They really protect actors and crew. I have always been a firm believer of 12-hour turnovers for everybody on sets. We are not at war, we are making movies. I don't think anyone's mental health should be sacrificed for that. At the end of the day, it's a job and everyone deserves an adequate amount of rest and sleep. It's basic human rights,' she shared. Although the situation in Bollywood is getting better now, the actor, without naming the industry recalled how she was exploited with the long working hours. 'With Hindi cinema, it is getting better now. But early in my career, when I really didn't understand how industries work, I just assumed this was the way to work. I did 16-18 hours a day shifts, where producers aligned my schedule, I would shoot the whole day and then fly at night. I didn't sleep for 24 hours straight. I stood up for myself and the crew. I told the producers that this is not okay. Maybe, I am blacklisted from that industry now, but I don't care. I just believe in standing up for what's right,' she said. ALSO READ | Genelia Deshmukh reveals she works 10-hour shifts amid Deepika Padukone's Spirit controversy, says 12-hour shifts are 'fair' When asked about being offered opportunties in Hindi cinema, after receiving critical acclamation in October (2018), opposite Varun Dhawan. 'During that time of my life, I wasn't fully living in India. I came to shoots and I was also shooting a lot of western stuff, I was doing my college in London as well. I wasn't as present as I could have been. There's a perception that I went and came back, but for me, I never went away, I was always working, just in a different country,' she said. Banita added, 'After October released, I graduated and I shot for atleast 3 projects in a year – in Hollywood and South. I got work from all different parts of the world, maybe not much from Bollywood. I would have been filthy rich if I moved to India as that time. I remember many producers telling me we wanted you after October in so and so film, but we didn't know where to find you. It works that way in Bollywood, if you're out of sight, then out of mind.' Banita Sandhu is often a target of trolling for her personal life. She was also rumored to be dating Punjabi singer AP Dhillon. 'I literally don't care. I have honestly been so blessed that people are actually really nice to me. Maybe one in a hundred, someone says something nasty. I have never been a very public person. I think that work speaks for itself. I have recently started being a bit more pro-active. Even me moving to India is a part of me trying. I grew up in the UK, I also wanted to live with my family. There's paparazzi everywhere now, your life is more exposed. It has taken me a really long time to accept that I have a public life,' she expressed. Talking about her aspirations in the Bollywood industry, the actor said, 'I would love to do a commercial movie. It's something that I grew up watching. It would be great if I have one of my own songs. I have never really done a dance sequence, never got the opportunity. People don't know but I used to dance a lot while growing up, I would love to do that.' Banita Sandhu will next be seen in Zee5's murder mystery Detective Sherdil. It also stars Diljit Dosanjh, Boman Irani, Diana Penty, and Sumeet Vyas.
