Actor Priyamani has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Deepika Padukone’s reported demand to limit her shooting hours to eight per day. While speaking to CNN-News18 Showsha, Priyamani explained that such situations vary from person to person and added that “there are times when you will have to adjust, which is okay, and you should make room for it.”
Deepika’s demand reportedly led to her exit from two high-profile films Spirit by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Kalki 2 by Nag Ashwin. Her decision was said to be driven by her wish to balance her professional life and time with her newborn daughter, Dua. However, the move sparked debate both within the film fraternity and online, with opinions divided on whether her request was justified.
Earlier, Deepika had spoken to CNBC-TV18 about the issue, pointing out that several male actors have been following similar schedules for years without being questioned. “It is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines,” she had said. The actor also remarked that if her stance was perceived as assertive “by virtue of being a woman,” she was fine with that.
After Deepika’s exit from Spirit, production house Vyjayanthi Movies also confirmed her departure from Kalki 2898 AD’s sequel, explaining in a statement that the decision came after “careful consideration” and that a film of such scale required a greater level of commitment.
Despite the controversy, Deepika continues to stay busy with upcoming projects. She will appear in King with Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan, and will also star in Atlee’s next film AA22xA6 opposite Allu Arjun. Priyamani, who previously worked with Deepika in Chennai Express and Jawan, will next be seen alongside Manoj Bajpayee in The Family Man Season 3.