Deepika Padukone's 8-Hour Workday Demand Reignites Debate on Industry's Grueling Schedules
Deepika Padukone's recent advocacy for an eight-hour work shift has once again brought the spotlight onto the long and exhausting work hours prevalent in the entertainment industry. As opinions remain sharply divided on this critical issue, veteran actor Kanwarjit Paintal has stepped forward to speak candidly about how the pervasive culture of extended shifts has taken a significant toll on actors, particularly those without substantial star power.
'We Worked for 8 Hours Back Then': Paintal Recalls a More Balanced Era
Recalling a time when work schedules were notably more balanced and humane, Paintal emphasized that shorter shifts were once the standard norm in filmmaking. In a detailed conversation, he elaborated, "Filmmaking is inherently a creative job, and creative work comes with its own unique set of requirements. A creative mind isn't primarily fatigued physically; it's the mental and emotional exhaustion that truly drains an artist. In our earlier days, we consistently adhered to eight-hour shifts. However, if an extension became absolutely necessary—perhaps due to an actor's unavailability the following day, the dismantling of a set, or any other pressing reason—we would occasionally agree to extend the hours."
'Today, 12 Hours Is Treated as Normal': The Alarming Shift in Industry Standards
The seasoned actor expressed deep concern over how these extended schedules gradually became acceptable and normalized across the entire entertainment sector. "But now, I cannot pinpoint exactly who is responsible, but they have systematically established a twelve-hour shift as the industry standard. A twelve-hour shift can become profoundly physically tiring, especially for women, children, and elderly performers. While it might be somewhat manageable for younger individuals, even they experience considerable fatigue under such demanding conditions these days."
Paintal further highlighted that television actors are subjected to even more extreme pressures. "If I share the latest development, in the television industry, the twelve-hour shift has now escalated to fourteen hours, and this is officially documented on paper. Production houses lock payments based on these shifts, meaning each shift is calculated as fourteen hours. Can you even imagine the strain this imposes?"
'How Do You Deliver a Quality Performance?': The Impact on Artistic Output
Paintal argued that such excessively long hours leave minimal room for adequate rest or maintaining creative freshness, which is essential for compelling performances. "An actor embodying a character must be physically present, remain mentally fresh, execute emotionally charged scenes, find moments of enjoyment, and then reappear the very next day for another fourteen-hour marathon."
Illustrating this with his own recent experience, he shared, "I was involved in a television shoot in Naigaon for about two to three months. My daily routine involved leaving home at 7 AM, arriving by 8:30 AM, undergoing makeup, and wrapping up only by 10 PM. After driving back home, I would reach around 11:30 PM, manage to sleep by 1 AM, and then repeat the identical grueling schedule the following day."
'Stars Can Say No, Others Pay the Price': The Power Imbalance in Entertainment
Supporting Deepika Padukone's firm stance, Paintal pointed out that actors often reluctantly agree to these unfair working conditions due to the pervasive fear of losing employment opportunities. "After enduring all this relentless pressure, how can anyone reasonably expect a quality performance? Actors frequently consent to this exploitation primarily because work offers are already scarce and competitive."
He concluded by underscoring the stark imbalance of power within the industry. "This twelve-hour norm has been entrenched for years, even within the film sector. A superstar like Akshay Kumar can assert that he won't work for twelve hours, but others simply cannot afford to make such demands. Established stars have the leverage, but if someone like me, Kanwarjit Paintal, were to say that, they would likely ask me to remain at home without work." Paintal was most recently seen portraying Anupamaa's dance guru, Pandit Manohar Sharma, in the popular television series Anupamaa.
