Director Atlee is reportedly planning to complete the remaining shoot of Raaka by September, with Deepika Padukone currently continuing her work on the film despite being eight months pregnant. Deepika is expected to welcome her second child in September, and according to reports, she is focused on completing her portions before taking a break for the delivery.
A source close to the production claims that Deepika has been spending long hours on the sets and is even working late into the night when required. The team is reportedly trying to finish her pending portions as quickly as possible. The development has naturally attracted attention, and the production is reportedly prioritizing her portions to ensure the shoot stays on schedule.
Raaka is one of Atlee’s most ambitious projects and features Allu Arjun in the lead. The film is currently being shot in Mumbai and is planned for a 2027 release.
Interestingly, the development has also triggered a debate on social media because of Deepika’s earlier reported stance during Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, starring Prabhas.
At that time, reports suggested that Deepika had asked for an eight-hour working limit so that she could balance the shoot with taking care of her baby. Now, according to the latest reports, she is continuing to work on Raaka even during her pregnancy and is reportedly putting in long hours, including late-night shoots, to ensure the schedule is not affected.
This has led some social media users to question the apparent difference in approach.
If Deepika could reportedly insist on an eight-hour schedule for Spirit, why is she now willing to work longer hours for Raaka? Is the difference because of the director, the project, the production circumstances, or simply the stage of her pregnancy?
Of course, the circumstances behind both productions may be completely different, and social media users may not have the full picture. There is also no reason to assume that Deepika herself is being forced to work beyond her comfort level.
Still, the comparison is inevitable.
The question being raised is simple: why was an eight-hour rule reportedly important for Prabhas’ Spirit, while Allu Arjun’s Raaka appears to be receiving a much more flexible approach?
