Ever since Deepika Padukone exited from Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD Part 2, citing long and unaffordable working hours, the issue has sparked continuous discussion in the industry. Recently, during promotions for her upcoming film Revolver Rani, actress Keerthy Suresh also expressed support for Deepika’s stance.
Deepika’s decision to leave two major projects, especially Kalki 2 which is a sequel, shocked fans and raised concerns across the industry. While neither Deepika nor the makers of Kalki 2 and Spirit have given an official statement, reports suggested that she demanded an 8-hour work shift. Initially, her stand received criticism, but over time, actresses like Rashmika Mandanna, Mani Ratnam and now Keerthy Suresh have backed her view.
Keerthy explained that even with an 8-hour shift, actors often spend additional hours before and after shooting. Extending beyond that can disturb sleep cycles and negatively affect the health of both actors and technicians.
The Mahanati actress further pointed out that in Tamil and Telugu industries, an 8-hour shift is standard, whereas in Hindi and Malayalam cinema, the norm is a 12-hour shift. She emphasized that Malayalam filmmakers, in particular, often shoot continuously without taking proper breaks.