"I always fight my battles quietly."
Deepika Padukone is one of Bollywood’s most loved and successful actresses.
However, the star has been the target of gossip in recent months.
These controversies arose when Deepika was removed from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, as well as Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit.
While Deepika Padukone has largely stayed quiet on these matters, in a recent interview, she appeared to make veiled references to them.
The star was heard discussing her take on the culture of Bollywood actors doing eight-hour shifts.
This is linked to the controversies as they targeted her work ethic and effort.
Deepika said: “I’ve done this on many levels – it’s not new to me.
“I think I’ve had to deal with whatever I got, even when it came to things like payment.
“I don’t know what to call it, but I always fight my battles quietly, and for some strange reason, sometimes they become public.
“That’s not my way. Nor was I raised that way.
“But yes, speaking up for myself and fighting my battles quietly and with dignity is my way.
“As a woman, if it feels pushy or something, so be it.
“But it’s no secret that many superstars, male superstars, have been working eight-hour days in the Indian film industry.
“They’ve been doing this for years. It’s never made headlines.
“I don’t want to name names, as it might make it a big issue.
“But it’s a well-known fact that many male actors work eight-hour days.
“Some work eight hours a day from Monday to Friday and don’t work on weekends.
“I think the larger issue is that while the Indian film industry is termed as an industry, we’ve never really worked like one.
“We are a very disorganised industry, and I think it’s time we brought some systems into this culture.
“I also know a lot of women and new mothers who are also working eight hours, but that also didn’t make headlines.”
Users on Reddit supported Deepika. One commented: “Honestly, good for her for speaking up.
“And it’s good for everyone to set boundaries for work-life balance and work nine to five and take weekends off.
“Akshay doesn’t work on Sundays. Ajay avoids working on Sundays as well.
“Akshay works very early shifts and is usually done by 5 pm. He hates late-night shoots and avoids them.
“Directors work around it by shooting day for night.
“Salman shows up when he feels like and again producers accommodate him.”
Another said: “She’s so right. How many times have we heard about male superstars being super late to sets?
“Also, people like to pretend that her being criticised for her demands has nothing to do with misogyny.
“But it very clearly is rooted in misogyny.”
An actor’s lateness and unprofessionalism on sets go back decades in Bollywood.
Classic superstars, including Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, and Govinda, were all known for arriving late to work.
While interviewing with Simi Garewal in 2003, Waheeda Rehman recounted a similar incident involving Sanjeev Kumar.
She said: “I was working with Sanjeev, and everyone knows what a great artist he was.
“But he was not concerned about time at all. So, the entire unit was frustrated.
“So, what I did once was go home as he arrived.
“He apologised, but I said I wouldn’t return until he promised he would be on time.”
On the work front, Deepika Padukone is currently shooting for Siddharth Anand’s King, which will mark her sixth film with Shah Rukh Khan.
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