Overview

• Deepika Padukone left director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit over her demand for an eight-hour workday and a reported ₹25 crore fee.
• Kabir Khan endorsed Padukone’s request, highlighting mental health and efficiency concerns and noting that Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar also adhere to eight-hour schedules.
• Surveen Chawla urged industry-wide regulations to accommodate new mothers, warning that marathon shoots drive burnout among cast and crew.
• Kabir argued that remuneration must match an individual’s audience draw, saying Padukone’s consistent box-office pull justifies her fee.
• Padukone’s casting in Atlee and Allu Arjun’s upcoming AA22 X A6 underscores her sustained market appeal despite the controversy.