The debate over fixed 8-hour workdays in Indian cinema resurfaces every now and then, but this year it erupted into a full-blown industry conversation after Deepika Padukone’s comments reignited the topic. While social media framed it as a simple “yes or no” question, the people who shoulder the responsibility of running film sets say the reality is far more layered.
Rana Daggubati: “Cinema Isn’t a Factory”
During THR India’s Producers Roundtable 2025, Rana Daggubati bluntly pushed back against the idea of rigid shifts. For him, filmmaking is too unpredictable and intuitive to function within corporate-style hours.
“This is not a job; it’s a lifestyle,” Rana said, explaining how each film demands a different rhythm. “It’s not a factory. We could sit for eight hours and the best scene comes out, or sit for fifty and nothing comes out.”
He believes the tone must be set by leadership.
“Unless the top brass understands that everyone is involved in creating one story, it doesn’t trickle down,” he added, suggesting that creativity can’t flourish under inflexible rules.
Dulquer Salmaan: Efficiency Over Timings
Dulquer Salmaan, who experienced multiple regional industries before producing this year’s blockbuster Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, offered his own perspective on how culture shapes working hours.
“In Malayalam, you just keep going,” he said with a laugh. “They clap while they say pack up because nobody knows when it’s going to end.”
With units often traveling as a single group, Sundays and festivals frequently become shoot days by necessity. Dulquer admitted that fatigue can sometimes affect performance, especially in long action or comic sequences, but the economics remain clear:
“Going extra on a day is cheaper than an additional day.”
Archana Kalpathi: “9 to 5 Is Not Possible in Cinema”
Producer Archana Kalpathi took a more managerial stand, emphasizing discipline over the idea of dramatically shorter days. For her, clarity during pre-production is what keeps chaos at bay.
“Not more than 10% of the production budget should go overboard,” she said. “I will not work with a director who has no clarity.”
But when it comes to the 8-hour discussion, she’s firm:
“9 to 5 is not possible in cinema… we all signed into this madness.”
Her focus, she stressed, is ensuring that no one’s time is wasted — whether the day runs long or short.
Vikramaditya Motwane: Planning Is Key
Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane agrees that long days are unavoidable but believes transparency makes them manageable.
“What I don’t like is feeling exploited or exploiting the crew,” he said. “As long as everyone knows it in advance, as long as they’re prepared for it, then you plan for it — you sign up for it.”
His stance reflects a growing sentiment across the industry: the issue isn’t the length of the day, but the clarity around it.
Final Words
While the push for humane, structured work hours grows across global industries, Indian cinema remains a world built on creative bursts, logistical challenges, and massive team coordination. For now, most filmmakers believe that an 8-hour framework simply doesn’t fit the realities of the job. What they do agree on, however, is the need for planning, communication, and respect — the only tools that can make long days feel sustainable.
