The chatter about long work shifts in the entertainment world has been going on for a while. It really picked up speed after Deepika Padukone spoke up. She suggested an eight-hour workday for actors. Now, people are taking sides, and renowned director Anurag Basu has shared his thoughts on the matter.
Basu jumped right into the conversation, backing Deepika’s proposal. He told Firstpost, “I am not interested in working long hours either. My artists never complain about stress or long days. So, I completely agree with Deepika’s statement. This is about making a film, and I never give my actors a chance to complain during work.” His point is clear: a happy set makes for better art.
Basu believes in fostering a good mood on set. He added that he wants his actors to feel good and understand their roles well. He mentioned that he doesn’t give them too much information before shooting begins. This way, they can discover their characters naturally. He finds this approach always works best. For him, a relaxed actor performs better, making the entire film shine.
Deepika’s demand for an eight-hour shift found support from many others in the industry too. Names like Sonakshi Sinha, Neha Dhupia, and Vikrant Massey have all voiced agreement. It seems a growing number of celebrities believe shorter, more focused workdays are the way to go.
This discussion isn’t just talk; it’s had real-world effects. Deepika herself was recently at the center of a film casting drama involving the movie “Spirit.” It was widely reported that she asked for an eight-hour shift, a share of the film’s profits, and insisted on not delivering dialogues in Telugu. The film’s director, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, reportedly disagreed with these terms. As a result, Deepika was replaced in the film by Tripti Dimri.
Meanwhile, Anurag Basu is currently busy promoting his latest film, “Metro… In Dino.” This movie is a spiritual follow-up to his 2007 hit, “Life in a Metro.” The film features a star-studded cast including Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh. It explores the tangled relationships of four couples, set against the bustling backdrops of cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
In other news, there was a recent report about Alia Bhatt’s former personal assistant. She was arrested on suspicion of taking money from the actress’s account.