‘I think to each his own’: Madhuri Dixit on 8-hour work shift debate amid Deepika-Sandeep Reddy Vanga row

Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit has entered the center of the industry’s ongoing work-hour debate, offering a measured and personal perspective just as discussions around Deepika Padukone’s demand for 8-hour shifts intensify. Speaking on an ANI podcast, Dixit reflected on her own decades-long career, her experiences as a working mother, and why she believes every actor should have the freedom to choose their schedule.

Madhuri Dixit reveals how she juggled motherhood and 12-hour shoots while reacting to Deepika’s stance. (image source: Madhuri Dixit/Instagram)

Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit recently shared her thoughts on the ongoing 8-hour work shift debate on an ANI podcast. This comes amid Deepika Padukone‘s advocacy for a proper work-life balance after becoming a new mother to baby Dua. Her demand for an 8-hour work shift and better pay parity became such a point of contention between herself and other filmmakers that she stepped away from two high-profile projects recently: the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit.

Now, Madhuri Dixit has weighed in and taking into account her own experience in the industry and with motherhood, her take is nuanced and different. On the podcast she spoke at depth about how she juggled her personal and professional life.

“I’m a workaholic”

Dixit who made her Bollywood debut in 1984 with the Hindi film Abodh, has had an incredible career over four decades long. She spoke at length about how the choice of work hours was a personal one and how she herself was a workaholic; having worked 12 hour shifts while filming her latest movie ‘Mrs Deshpande’.

“The thing is that when we did ‘Mrs Deshpande’, we were working 12-hour shifts every day, like maybe more sometimes. So, I think to each his own. I’m a workaholic. So for me, maybe it’s different, but if a woman has that power and can say, ‘Okay, I want to work these many hours,’ then that’s her prerogative, and that’s her life, and that’s how she wants to do it. Then more power to her,” she said.

Her views on the subject make it clear that working hours for an actor should be a personal choice and that Deepika demanding 8-hour work days is more power to her. Earlier actress Rani Mukerji had also expressed her views on this debate saying that flexible working hours were dependent on the mutual understanding between an actor and a director.

“These things are up for conversation today because maybe people are discussing it outside. But this has been the norm with all professions. I’ve also done it where I have worked for certain hours. If the producer’s okay with it, you go ahead with the film. If the producer isn’t okay with it, you don’t make the film. So it’s also a choice. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody,” she said.

Madhuri Dixit’s next project is interesting

Madhuri Dixit will next be seen on the OTT thriller series ‘Mrs Deshpande’ starring Priyanshu Chatterjee, Siddharth Chandekar, Kavin Dave, and Arjun Pandey. Mrs Deshpande will have Dixit in a never-before seen role as she transforms into a convicted serial killer who helps the police hunt down a copycat murderer.

Dark, gripping and explorative of tense family relations, the show is a remake of French series La Mante and a perfect of mix of suspense and drama. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, the trailer for Mrs Deshpande released on Dec 1 and will begin streaming on JioHotstar from December 19.

This article was first uploaded on December two, twenty twenty-five, at thirty-seven minutes past twelve in the night.