It's Not A Factory: Rana Daggubati's Stand On Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour Shift Debate

Bollywood's ongoing debate over fixed eight-hour shifts resurfaced this week after veteran actor Madhuri Dixit weighed in during an interview, describing herself as a workaholic who routinely puts in 12-hour days while shooting her upcoming web series Mrs Deshpande.

Dixit acknowledged the controversy that began when Deepika Padukone left Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas's Spirit after producers did not accommodate her request for an eight-hour workday as a new mother, but she added that work patterns are a personal choice.

Rana Daggubati revisited the issue at The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable 2025, where he argued that filmmaking is a lifestyle rather than a conventional job and that demands vary by project. "Each film will ask for something else. It's not a factory," he said, noting that creative outcomes cannot be guaranteed by fixed hours - sometimes the best scene emerges in a short span, other times long days yield little.

Daggubati has previously said the question of shift length depends on the individual, the nature of the project and regional practices.

Speaking to Lallantop, he had said, "It depends on the project, the person, and the region. For example, in Maharashtra, it's a 12-hour shift, while in Telugu cinema typically has an 8-hour shift starting at 7 am. Everyone has a certain mentality, and the city also gives to certain things. You are seeing it as a generic statement - it is not. If you have to shoot on a set, it depends on how much prep you need. There are films taking place on a big spectacle where only two shoots take place in a day."

The debate reignited public attention after Deepika, who became a mother in September 2024, walked out of the Kalki sequel when her request for reduced hours was not accepted. The role opposite Prabhas was later recast with Triptii Dimri, while Deepika has since signed on to a new project with Allu Arjun and director Atlee, tentatively titled #AA22xA6