Deepika Padukone’s reported feud with Sandeep Reddy Vanga over her demand for an 8-hour workday made headlines recently. Since then, several people from the film industry have come out in support of the actor. Now, director Kabir Khan, who is also a friend of Deepika, has defended her. He also revealed that even male actors, including Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar, work on an 8-hour shift.
In an interview with Movified, Kabir spoke about the need for proper working hours in the film industry, citing mental health and better efficiency. “I work with 500 crew members who each have families and their own lives. Their well‑being matters, not just for efficiency, but for their mental health,” he said.
While defending Deepika’s demands, Kabir added, “It’s a fair point. Aamir Khan works on an 8‑hour shift. Akshay Kumar too. So I don’t see why Deepika should be denied the same. If a filmmaker doesn’t agree, they should have a valid reason. It’s that simple.”
The Chandu Champion director also rejected the notion that filmmaking comes at the cost and sacrifice of personal life. According to him, work should have a structure. Kabir revealed that he himself has never shot more than 12 hours, never worked overtime, and never worked on Sundays. “These are basic rules,” he asserted.
When asked about Deepika Padukone’s reported fee demand of Rs 25 crore, Kabir Khan said that remuneration should align with audience appeal and box office draw, noting that she attracts huge crowds to theatres. “Whoever brings in the viewers, whether an actor, director, man or woman… they deserve to be paid what they’re worth,” he said.
On the professional front, Deepika was last seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. She has Atlee and Allu Arjun’s next AA22 X A6 in her kitty. The announcement video hinted that she will play the role of a warrior princess in the film.
