Actor Rubina Dilaik has spoken up about the ongoing debate on fixed working hours in the film and TV industry, which recently grabbed attention after Deepika Padukone allegedly walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film ‘Spirit’.
Backing Deepika’s demand for an eight-hour workday, Rubina shared that she too has faced similar challenges since the early days of her career. “This (working hours) has been a struggle even when I was new to the industry, but very rarely are we heard. If we voice our concern about it, then it becomes news, but working hours have to be respectful,” she said in an interview with PTI.
Rubina further emphasised the need for systemic change and promised to lead by example if she ever turns producer. “I’m not saying this because I’m an actor. If I become a producer, I shall ensure that my people work within eight hours. I’ll create a system wherein we do meaningful and good work within eight hours, and it’s a win-win for everyone,” she added.
Supporting Deepika’s stance, she called the actor’s demand ‘very realistic.’ “I’m not saying that the producer or the network should lose money. Everyone should get time to rest because their creativity will flourish. Having said that, Deepika Padukone has not made an unrealistic demand,” Rubina said.
The discussion around industry’s work culture began after reports surfaced that Deepika, who recently embraced motherhood, had requested to limit her working hours to eight per day on the sets of ‘Spirit’. Her request reportedly didn’t align with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s schedule, leading to her departure from the project. Since then, several celebrities, including Vikrant Massey, Rashmika Mandanna, Neha Dhupia, and Anurag Basu have come out in support of her.
On the work front, Deepika is gearing up for another collaboration with ‘Jawan’ director Atlee and is expected to feature in Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming project ‘King’. Meanwhile, Rubina Dilaik participated as one of the contestants on ‘Laughter Chefs 2’. She recently starred in ‘Pati Patni Aur Panga’ alongside her husband Abhinav Shukla.
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