The on-going debate over fixated working hours in Bollywood, Radhika Apte has become the latest celebrity to take a stand supporting Deepika Padukone’s statement. The controversy stirred when Deepika Padukone was ousted from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit for demanding structured work schedules as a new mother and sparked wide discussions questioning the unspoken rules of industry. After becoming a mother, herself, on her daughter’s first birthday she said she understands Deepika’s emotions. And backing Deepika’s stand, Radhika stated that “I will not be able to work unless the producers now agree to 12-hour shifts, and by 12 hours, I mean, including travel, makeup and hair. Otherwise, we are basically working for 16 hours as you’re on set for a minimum of 14 hours, including your hair, makeup and just a little bit of extended shift."
The professional fallout between director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and actress Deepika Padukone has recently intensified following her exit from his upcoming film ‘Spirit’. The tension reportedly escalated when Vanga posted a cryptic but pointed critique on social media, accusing an unnamed actor, widely understood to be Deepika of engaging in "dirty PR games" and violating a non-disclosure agreement regarding the film's script. Vanga’s post specifically took aim at her brand of feminism, questioning whether "ousting" his story and "putting down a younger actor" aligned with those values. This sparked a divided response across the industry, while some fans defended Padukone’s right to set professional boundaries, such as her reported requests for an eight-hour workday and fixed remuneration following the birth of her daughter while others sided with Vanga’s frustrations over alleged plot leaks.