“We are actors, not laborers!” – Priyamani got angry on Deepika Padukone’s ‘8-hour work’ rule, new debate started in Bollywood:

A new and bigger debate has erupted regarding Bollywood’s ‘working culture’, and this time two big actresses are at the center of it – Deepika Padukone and ‘Jawaan’ fame Priyamani. Recently, Deepika Padukone had said that she works only 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, so that she can maintain a balance in her professional and personal life. While some people praised Deepika’s statement, now actress Priyamani has made such a sharp comment on it, which has created a stir in the entire industry.

What did Priyamani say?

Priyamani disagreed with Deepika’s ‘8-hour shift’ statement and said that being an actor, her work is not a typical 9 to 5 job. He said clearly, “We are not daily wage laborers that we come, work for 8 hours, and go.”

Priyamani further added, “As an actor, our work is very different. Sometimes we have to wait for hours for a scene, and sometimes it takes several takes to perfect a shot. We cannot work within time constraints. If a scene takes 10 or 12 hours, we have to do it. That is the demand of our job.”

Has a new debate started in Bollywood?

This statement of Priyamani is giving fuel to the debate which has been going on in the industry for a long time – should actors also be tied to a fixed working time or not?

• Deepika’s side: Stars like Deepika are advocating for prioritizing work-life balance and mental health, so that artists do not fall victim to burnout.
• Priyamani’s side: At the same time, artists like Priyamani keep the demands of art above all else. He believes that creativity cannot be measured in terms of time and that hours of hard work are worth it for a perfect shot.

This debate shows that there are different views on how to work in the film industry. Now it remains to be seen whether the culture of ‘8 hour shift’ will dominate in Bollywood in future or the obsession of ‘as long as the shot is OK’ will dominate.