'Burnout' isn't 'commitment': Deepika Padukone defends 8-hour shift demand
What's the story
Deepika Padukone recently defended her demand for an eight-hour work shift, stating that "we've normalized overworking" in the industry. The actor's request for shorter working hours reportedly led to her exit from two major projects, Spirit and Kalki 2. In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Padukone spoke about how motherhood has changed her perspective on work and emphasized the need to support new mothers returning to work.
Work-life balance
'Eight hours of work a day is enough'
Padukone said, "We've normalized overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind." "Only when you're healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one." "In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies."
Motherhood impact
'I feel strongly about how new mothers...'
Reflecting on her own experience, Padukone said, "You can plan how you think you'll navigate work and motherhood, but the reality is very different." "I feel strongly about how new mothers need to be supported when they return to work. That's something I want to focus on." She added, "Every cliché is true. When mothers say, 'You'll understand when you become one,' it's true. I have so much more respect for my mother now."
Pay parity
Padukone's stance on pay disparity in Bollywood
In a separate interview with CNBC-TV18, Padukone addressed the ongoing debate over working conditions and pay parity in Bollywood. She said, "I have done this at many levels; this is not new to me." "I think, even as far as pay is concerned, I have had to deal with whatever comes with it." "But yes, to fight my battles silently and in a dignified way is the way I know." Meanwhile, she will next be seen in King.