“She Is Not Irreplaceable,” Suneel Darshan Warns Deepika Padukone Amid Spirit Exit Row

The ongoing conversation around work-life balance in Bollywood took a new turn after Deepika Padukone was dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit. Her reported request for an eight-hour workday, aimed at maintaining a balance between her career and personal life after becoming a mother, has drawn mixed reactions. While some voices in the industry have shown support for her, filmmaker Suneel Darshan has recently criticised the demand.

While speaking in an interview, Suneel Darshan says that if an actor insists on an eight-hour workday, the producer should first get a written assurance that the actor will fully dedicate those hours to shooting. He adds that in practice, actors often don’t spend the entire time working and if someone manages to deliver shots for even half that time, producers would be grateful.

Suneel Darshan describes Deepika’s request as “unreal” and says that artists should be passionate enough to care about a project even more than the filmmakers themselves. He also points out that nobody in the industry is irreplaceable. Referring to Deepika’s career, he said that there was a time when she wasn’t part of the film world and that new talent can always be discovered.

The issue came into the spotlight after Deepika was removed from Spirit, a Prabhas-starrer directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Reports say the decision was linked to her conditions, which allegedly included limited work hours, a high fee and a share in the film’s profits. These demands apparently did not go down well with the director.

In contrast, several celebrities have spoken in Deepika’s favour. Vikrant Massey, Anurag Basu and Rashmika Mandanna are among those who have supported her right to seek a healthier balance between personal and professional life. Rashmika addressed the matter in an interview, stating that the debate over flexible working hours is relevant across the country and should be resolved through mutual understanding within teams. She emphasised that such choices are personal.

The conversation around Deepika’s decision has now become a broader discussion on the need for more humane working conditions in the film industry, with opinions divided on whether such demands should be seen as progressive or impractical.

What is your take on this matter? Do let us know.

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