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Banita Sandhu BACKS Deepika Padukone's Stance On Work Hours: 'Basic Human Rights Shouldn't...'
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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
