The discussion around working hours in the Telugu film industry continues to gather attention, and director Venky Atluri has now shared his perspective. While recent conversations have largely revolved around Deepika Padukone’s reported preference for an eight-hour workday, Atluri believes actors working outside their home industries should understand and adapt to the work culture of the film industry they join. Without directly commenting on any particular casting decision, the filmmaker explained why flexibility matters on a film set and backed his opinion with an experience from his upcoming film.
Atluri also highlighted Raveena Tandon’s professionalism during the shoot of Vishwanath & Sons, recalling how the veteran actor agreed to an extended filming schedule despite difficult weather conditions. According to the director, her willingness to adjust helped the production avoid delays.
Venky Atluri says actors should respect local work culture
During an interview with THR India, Venky Atluri avoided discussing any specific actor’s departure from a project but spoke broadly about expectations when artists work across different regional film industries. He said filmmakers and actors should respect the established work culture of the industry they become part of, adding that he would follow the same principle if he were directing a Hindi film.
“When a person from any industry, let it be Tamil, let it be Malayalam, let it be Hindi. When you’re coming and acting in a Telugu film, understand the work culture there, and maybe respect the culture,” Venky said.
His comments come amid ongoing conversations about working practices in Tollywood, where producers and actors have expressed differing views on production schedules. The debate has intensified in recent months as more pan-Indian productions bring together talent from multiple film industries, each with its own established way of working.
Raveena Tandon worked a 14-hour shift, says director
Explaining why adaptability can sometimes be necessary, Venky recalled an incident involving Raveena Tandon while filming Vishwanath & Sons in Ooty. The director said the cast was working in temperatures of around six to seven degrees Celsius on the final day of the shoot, leaving the production with only two practical choices.
According to Venky, the team could either complete the remaining scenes in a single extended schedule or postpone part of the work and shoot patch sequences elsewhere later. He revealed that Suriya was ready to continue filming, but he was initially unsure whether Raveena would agree after such a long day.
Sharing the experience, Venky said, “On the last day of the shoot, we were shooting in Ooty. The temperature was around six or seven degrees Celsius. Maybe not a big deal for people from Hyderabad. But for people from Bombay and Chennai, it’s cold. There were only two options: either shoot for 14 hours straight. Or, shoot a portion of the film here, and do the patch somewhere else. Suriya sir was willing to do, and I requested Raveena ma’am. Her manager said, ma’am will be angry. She overheard me, and she shot from 10:30 in the morning to 12:30 at night.”
The director praised the actor’s commitment, saying her decision helped the team complete the schedule without returning for additional filming. Vishwanath & Sons, which marks Venky Atluri’s next directorial venture after Lucky Baskhar, stars Suriya, Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, Anil Kapoor, Radhika Sarathkumar, and several others. The bilingual Tamil-Telugu film is scheduled to release on August 14.
Deepika Padukone previously explained her eight-hour stance
The discussion around work schedules gained widespread attention after reports last year suggested Deepika Padukone had requested an eight-hour workday while working on Telugu productions. The reports sparked debate across the film industry, with opinions divided between those supporting healthier working conditions and those defending the long-standing production culture followed by many film sets.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar India, Deepika later explained why she believes shorter working days are beneficial not only for actors but also for technicians and crew members. She also said becoming a mother had reshaped her priorities and encouraged the industry to think more seriously about work-life balance, including the normalisation of maternity and paternity leave.
“We’ve normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind,” Deepika said.
As conversations about workplace practices continue across Indian cinema, Venky Atluri’s remarks offer another viewpoint in an ongoing industry-wide discussion. While opinions remain divided, the debate has also opened broader conversations about balancing production demands with the well-being of everyone working behind and in front of the camera.
