Shobhaa De Weighs In on Deepika Padukone's Work Hour Demands and Motherhood in Bollywood
Following Deepika Padukone's reported exits from projects like 'Spirit' and 'Kalki 2', a significant debate has emerged in Bollywood regarding work shift timings, particularly for actresses who are mothers. The discussion centers on Padukone's alleged demand for an eight-hour work day, which some sources suggest may have contributed to her departure from these films.
Only Elite Stars Have Negotiating Power
In a recent interview with Rediff Originals, veteran columnist Shobhaa De offered her perspective on this industry controversy. De argued that only a select few top-tier actresses possess the clout to successfully negotiate such working conditions. "In that category, there'll be Deepika Padukone, there'll be Priyanka Chopra," De stated. "I don't see too many other girls being able to negotiate those kinds of terms. They'll immediately be replaced and they'll look for someone else."
De emphasized the commercial realities of filmmaking, noting that "cinema is commerce" and must generate box office revenue. She suggested that most actresses lack the star power to make such demands, using Radhika Apte as a hypothetical example: "No one is going to care if Radhika Apte says, 'I'll only work for six hours or four hours or two hours or whatever'."
Gradual Change at Best
While acknowledging that the conversation about work hours represents progress, De cautioned against expecting rapid transformation. "Certainly Priyanka and Deepika are in that category," she said. "So they can afford to say it, and I'm sure it will change things gradually for the others."
De drew parallels to Hollywood, where similar discussions about pay disparity and working conditions have persisted for years without substantial change. "The top stars in Hollywood can go on and on about the pay disparity and so on. They've been bleating about it for the last 10-15 years. But nothing has changed. Nothing."
Motherhood's Impact on Female Careers
The columnist also addressed how motherhood affects the careers of female stars in the Indian film industry. She expressed uncertainty about whether all actresses can maintain their professional standing after having children. "I'm not at all convinced or sure whether Katrina Kaif will be able to make that leap, after her baby," De remarked. "I'm not sure whether people will still look at Kiara Advani in the same way now that she's a mother."
When presented with examples of successful mothers in Bollywood like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Alia Bhatt, De distinguished these as exceptional cases. "These actresses that you've singled out are exceptional on screen, and they deliver in commercial terms," she explained. "So it's a different kind of story. I don't think people think of motherhood when they look at Alia."
De noted that these particular stars have "bounced back very quickly" and remain "very much alive to their own possibilities and the kind of work they wish to do, and in a position to dictate that."
The ongoing discussion highlights broader questions about work-life balance, gender dynamics, and commercial pressures within the Indian film industry, with Deepika Padukone's situation serving as a catalyst for this important conversation.
