Pankaj Tripathi Speaks About Setting Boundaries
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Pankaj Tripathi supported the idea of saying “no” when needed. He said it’s important for actors to set limits and not stretch themselves too much.
Pankaj Tripathi shared,
“Right now, I’m practising how to say ‘no.’ Everyone should know where the limit is. The work hours are getting too long—16 to 18 hours sometimes. I even tell them, ‘the actor has gone, but the workers are still waiting.’”
Pankaj Tripathi further added,
“Now it’s better to politely say, ‘No, this is enough. We agreed to work this much. We’ve done our part. Whatever is left, we’ll do it tomorrow.’”
Deepika Padukone Exits Spirit Due to Work Hour Demands
Reports say that Deepika Padukone decided to leave director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit after asking for an 8-hour work shift, which became a big reason for her exit. This topic has been trending on social media for the past few weeks.
What Really Happened
Deepika, who is now a new mother, made a few conditions before agreeing to work on Spirit.
- She asked to work only 8 hours a day.
- She also wanted to be paid extra if she worked beyond the agreed time.
- She did not want to say her dialogues in Telugu.
- She also requested a share in the film’s profits.
- Lastly, she was not comfortable with some intimate scenes planned in the script.
These demands didn’t go well with the director, which led to her being replaced by actress Triptii Dimri.
Also read: Mani Ratnam Supports Deepika Padukone After Shocking Exit From Spirit.
Saif Ali Khan and Others Agree
Saif Ali Khan, while speaking at the Arab Media Summit 2025, shared his personal thoughts:
“I don’t like coming home late and seeing my kids already asleep. That’s not success. Success is being able to say, ‘I want to go home now and spend some time with them.’”
Last week, during the trailer launch of Maa, Kajol and Ajay Devgn also supported the idea of shorter work hours.
Devgn said:
“Most honest filmmakers are fine with 8-hour shifts, especially for new moms. Even otherwise, 8-hour work days are becoming more common now. It depends on the person, but most people in the industry understand it.”
Controversy and Reaction
After Deepika walked out of Spirit, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga shared a post on social media, where he indirectly called her “unprofessional.”
But many in the film industry are seeing Deepika’s demands as reasonable and important, especially for working mothers and for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Also read: RCB’s First IPL Title From Trolled to Triumph The Incredible Story.