"You’ll be surprised at how much one has to fight."
Radhika Apte has added her voice to the growing conversation around work-life balance in Bollywood, revealing she has had arguments with producers over the matter.
In a recent interview with Filmfare, the actress revealed she would change working hours if she could, sharing that she has clashed with producers over refusing extended shifts.
She said: “I’ll change the working hours to begin with.
“You can’t expect someone to go an entire week without seeing their child.
“I’ve had multiple conversations and arguments over refusing to do long shifts.
“You’ll be surprised at how much one has to fight. I find it quite baffling.
“And people say have a nanny and let them come on set. I’m sorry, but that’s really not the answer.”
She has now set clear boundaries to protect her personal life, particularly as a parent.
Radhika explained: “I’ve started putting my foot down and a lot of people haven’t liked it. I can’t work beyond 12 hours.
“And that includes everything from travel, hair, makeup, and the shoot itself. If my travel takes two hours, then the shift has to be planned accordingly.
“Of course, there can be exceptions to this but that’s my non-negotiable.
“I insist on weekly offs and ideally wouldn’t want to work more than five days a week.
“Unless it is a small film where the project genuinely can’t function. I’d appreciate a five day a week and a 12-hour shift.”
The debate over long working hours in Bollywood gained momentum last year following reports that filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga had removed Deepika Padukone from the Prabhas-starrer Spirit.
Reports suggested Deepika’s demands, including shorter workdays, a higher fee, and profit-sharing, did not align with the director’s vision.
As a new mother, Deepika was reportedly trying to balance professional commitments with her personal life.
Since then, several industry figures have spoken out in support of healthier working conditions.
Actors Vikrant Massey, Rashmika Mandanna, and Yami Gautam, along with filmmaker Anurag Basu, have publicly backed Deepika and echoed the need for more humane schedules in the film industry.
Radhika’s comments add to a growing push within Bollywood for schedules that allow actors and crew to maintain a healthier work-life balance, highlighting the personal and professional pressures many face in the industry.
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