Overview

• Deepika Padukone reportedly exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit after her request for an eight-hour workday was declined amid contractual disagreements and concerns over long shooting hours.
• Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga accused an unnamed actor of running a ‘dirty PR game’ in a cryptic social media post that many interpreted as targeting Padukone.
• In a June 7 interview with The Lallantop, Rana Daggubati explained that Maharashtra shoots often run 12-hour days starting at 9 am while Telugu productions typically stick to eight-hour shifts from 7 am.
• Daggubati described acting as a lifestyle choice rather than a conventional job and emphasized that no performer is forced to accept extended hours on set.
• Industry figures remain divided over proposals for fixed, humane shooting schedules as they balance artistic ambition with evolving expectations around work-life balance.