The discussion around Deepika Padukone’s call for an eight-hour work shift in the film industry continues, and now actor-producers Rana Daggubati and Dulquer Salmaan have shared their take. In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter India, both stars explained why they feel fixed working hours are “not possible in cinema.”
Rana: “Cinema Is Not a Job, It’s a Lifestyle”
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Speaking about the unpredictable nature of filmmaking, Rana said that creativity cannot be boxed into fixed hours. He explained, “This is not a job; it’s a lifestyle. Each film asks for something different. It’s not a factory. You can sit for eight hours and get the best scene, or work for fifty hours and get nothing.”
Dulquer: “Crew Members Themselves Prefer Working Longer”
Dulquer Salmaan echoed the same sentiment, sharing his experience from Malayalam cinema. He said that on set, “you just keep going,” and that even crew members are often willing to work longer to wrap up quickly. “If I want to give them a break, they say, ‘No, let’s finish and go home,’” he added.
Cost: Why Longer Days Can Be Cheaper
Dulquer also highlighted a key production reality extending hours in a single day is usually cheaper than adding an extra shoot day.
Producer Archana Kalpathi supported this point, saying that a traditional 9-to-5 structure simply doesn’t work for filmmaking. “We’ve all signed up for sunrise-to-sunset call sheets. It’s collaborative, but we shouldn’t waste anyone’s time,” she noted.
She explained that while smaller films can avoid holiday shoots, large productions face huge interest costs, making speed essential. Motwane: “Long Hours Shouldn’t Mean Exploitation”
Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane agreed that long hours are sometimes unavoidable but stressed one thing: “What I don’t like is feeling exploited or exploiting the crew.” He added that as long as schedules are communicated clearly, teams can prepare for demanding days.
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