As conversations around work-life balance in the film industry are the buzz right now, actress Genelia D’Souza has offered her perspective on the demanding schedules faced by actors. Speaking in an interview with Zoom, the Sitaare Zameen Par star opened up about juggling professional responsibilities while maintaining a personal life, emphasising that although the hours can be long, they’re manageable with the right mindset.
“It is tough but it is not impossible,” Genelia said. “I do work for 10 hours a day and there are days when the director asks to extend it to 11 or 12 hours. I think it’s fair, but we just need time to make those adjustments. When you have a day or two where you have to overdo, it’s also an understanding and a process that needs to be done.”
Her comments come after reports that Deepika Padukone exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit due to scheduling disagreements. According to reports, the filmmaker was unwilling to accommodate Padukone’s request for an 8-hour workday, among other reported conditions such as a share in the film’s profits and not delivering lines in Telugu. The standoff led to her replacement by actress Triptii Dimri.
Padukone’s reported departure drew both support and scrutiny within the film fraternity. Prominent figures including filmmaker Mani Ratnam, actor Ajay Devgn, and actress Neha Dhupia publicly backed the actress, reigniting discussions about work culture, especially for women in the industry.
In contrast, Genelia’s more flexible stance provides another view into the challenges actors face. While she acknowledges the strain of long hours, her comments suggest a collaborative approach between actors and filmmakers to ensure successful productions without compromising too much on personal well-being.
Meanwhile on her work front, Genelia is set to return to the big screen in Sitaare Zameen Par, a sports comedy-drama produced by Aamir Khan Productions. The film will introduce ten new faces — Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film is scheduled for theatrical release on June 20.