Aditya Sarpotdar Backs 12-Hour Shifts as Bollywood Work-Hours Debate Continues

The conversation around limiting working hours on Hindi film sets has gained momentum, sparked by reports of Deepika Padukone leaving projects such as Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. The industry remains divided between calls for fixed schedules and those who view strict limits as impractical.

Filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar, whose horror-comedy Thamma was recently released, weighed in on the prevailing culture of long and unpredictable shoots. He described extended workdays as both physically and mentally draining for cast and crew.

"It's often assumed people can stretch to 24-hour commitments, which is unfair. A 12-hour shift is a reasonable and workable standard," Sarpotdar said, warning that longer days place undue pressure on teams.

He noted that lead Rashmika Mandanna routinely completes 12-hour schedules without complaint, but stressed that endurance varies among individuals. "You can't expect everyone to tolerate the same demands. If actor and director agree on the terms, then collaboration works," he added.

On Deepika Padukone's demand for fixed hours, Sarpotdar asked peers to examine the specifics behind such positions before applying a blanket rule. "Each performer and production is unique; a one-size-fits-all mandate makes little sense," he said.

Sarpotdar also described adjustments made on Thamma to protect veteran actor Paresh Rawal's health during filming. "Caring for our senior artistes is part of our duty," he explained.

Rashmika Mandanna, who has earlier raised concerns about overwork, reiterated her preference for more structured hours akin to a typical nine-to-five, highlighting the need for rest and personal time and calling excessive schedules unsustainable.

Thamma features Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal alongside Rashmika, and has collected Rs 121.80 crore in domestic box office since its Diwali release.

Rashmika will next be seen in the Telugu romance The Girlfriend, directed by Rahul Ravindran, which is due to arrive in theatres this Friday.