Veteran actor Supriya Pathak has joined the growing conversation in Bollywood around structured working hours, voicing support for Deepika Padukone and her reported demand for eight-hour shifts in the film industry. The discussion has sparked widespread debate about work-life balance and professional practices in Hindi cinema.
Speaking in an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Pathak emphasised that actors need adequate time to prepare for their roles and perform convincingly in front of the audience.
"As an actor, I am the one facing the audience. And when you face an audience, you need to be prepared. If you don't give me the time to prepare myself, how will I face them? So I think it's very important that actors, whether male or female, are given the time to prepare," she said.
Pathak also reflected on the broader challenges women face while balancing multiple responsibilities. According to her, women often have to juggle several roles simultaneously, which makes the need for balance even more important.
“I feel our brains are thinking about twenty things at the same time, while a man's brain often focuses on one thing. Their challenges are different, ours are different, which is why we need balance,” she explained.
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The actor also spoke about women's inner strength and empowerment, noting that women already possess the capability to achieve anything they set their minds to. However, she believes they sometimes need encouragement to recognise that power.
“I believe women are empowered within themselves. Sometimes we just don't ignite that power. But if we get even a small spark, we can become a very powerful firecracker,” she said.
The debate gained attention earlier this year after Deepika Padukone reportedly exited Spirit due to differences with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga over her demands, including eight-hour work shifts, higher pay and profit sharing, as she seeks better work-life balance after motherhood.
Earlier, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday had also expressed support for the idea, stating that actors should be able to openly discuss their work schedules and personal commitments with producers before taking up projects.
Padukone is now set to appear in upcoming films, including King and Atlee's next with Allu Arjun.
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