Rana Daggubati Flips His Statement on Deepika Padukone?

Deepika Padukone sparked a major discussion after supporting an 8-hour workday in film productions. She called for healthier work-life balance in an industry where schedules often stretch far beyond normal limits. Her comment has now drawn strong reactions from top names in the South.

Many industry figures claim that such working hours do not reflect the reality of filmmaking. Rana Daggubati rejected the idea during a media interaction and said cinema is a lifestyle rather than a job. He added that shooting cannot be completed like a regular eight-hour shift.

Producer Archana Kalpathi shared a similar view. She said a strict 9–5 schedule does not work for films because of call sheets and the high interest costs involved in big projects. She noted that the team must finish everything within the planned schedule.

Actor-filmmaker Dulquer Salmaan spoke about the financial load that comes with extending a shoot. He pointed out that adding even one extra day becomes a major burden for the producer. He suggested that the team should put in extra effort earlier instead of prolonging the shoot.

These industry reactions sparked heavy criticism online. Many users accused the top names of glorifying exploitation and normalising overwork. One viral post said the “don’t work if you can’t work like slaves” attitude hurts creative fields even more.

Another user compared these statements to old corporate takes from Narayan Murthy and called them outdated and inhumane. A separate post pointed out Rana Daggubati’s earlier interview where he claimed Telugu cinema follows an 8-hour schedule. Users questioned why he denied another artist the same convenience.

This entire debate reflects a larger crisis in India’s work culture. Corporate or creative, the pressure to overwork continues to rise across industries. Deepika’s stance may not have gained wide support within the industry, but it has pushed work-life balance into the spotlight and opened space for change.