The ongoing debate surrounding an 8-hour work shift in Bollywood has found a powerful and articulate voice in acclaimed actress Shefali Shah. In a recent interview, the star of 'Delhi Crimes Season 3' shared her strong views on the industry's grueling schedules, arguing that while flexibility is necessary, excessively long hours should not be the unsaid standard.
A Much-Needed Conversation on Work-Life Balance
Shefali Shah emphasized that the discussion about long working hours was long overdue. She stated that actors are reasonable people who understand when project demands require accommodation, such as an unavailable location. However, she firmly believes that this cannot become the norm.
She provided a stark breakdown of her own typical day to illustrate the physical and mental toll. "It takes me an hour and a half to reach a set and the same time to return," she explained. After giving her absolute best on set, she returns home only to manage other job-related responsibilities like going to the gym. This is followed by showering, eating, and reviewing the script for the next day.
"How many hours of sleep am I getting?" she questioned. "And how are you expecting me to come with my A-game?" This poignant query underscores the direct impact of relentless schedules on the quality of an artist's performance.
The Unseen Inequality and Crew Exploitation
In a significant critique, Shefali Shah also highlighted a gender-based disparity often overlooked in these discussions. She pointed out that while female actors are contractually bound for eight or ten hours, the chronic tardiness of some male actors is rarely accounted for. "We are talking about eight hours and 10 hours contractually, but have we even accounted for the number of hours some male actors come late? That's not even considered," she revealed.
Furthermore, she shed light on how the entire crew suffers due to these extended schedules. She shared a telling anecdote from one of her recent films with a 10-hour schedule. Some of the Assistant Directors (ADs) told her, "Thank God, she leaves because that way we get to go."
She drove the point home by highlighting the financial injustice faced by the crew. The rest of the crew does not get paid extra for the overtime, raising serious questions about fairness and workers' rights within the film industry. Her comments bring to the forefront that the debate is not just about stars, but about the well-being of every individual on a film set.
