Mumbai, Oct 11: As discussions around Deepika Padukone’s recent remarks on Bollywood’s work culture intensify, an old video featuring actors Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Riteish Deshmukh has resurfaced on social media, drawing fresh attention to the industry’s long-standing practices.
The clip, from The Kapil Sharma Show during the promotions of a Housefull film, shows Abhishek and Riteish light-heartedly teasing Akshay Kumar for his disciplined eight-hour workday. “Pack-up hote hi, sabse zyada excited insan — Akshay Kumar,” Abhishek quips in the video, describing Akshay’s punctual approach to filming.
Riteish joins in, saying, “Aath ghante se zyada kaam nahi karte hain yeh. Subah saat baje aayenge set pe… turant meter chalu.” Abhishek adds with a laugh that even during makeup or costume breaks, Akshay adheres strictly to his schedule and ensures he wraps up exactly on time.
The video’s resurgence coincides with the controversy sparked by Padukone’s exit from Spirit and Kalki 2, and her recent comments about the need for structure and balance in the Hindi film industry.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Padukone pointed out the double standards in how similar choices are perceived based on gender. “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it,” she said. “But it is no secret that a lot of male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”
She also noted that many male actors follow regular Monday-to-Friday schedules, avoiding weekend work without facing criticism. “Those choices are completely normalised,” she said.
Padukone further argued that Bollywood’s lack of organisation often affects professionalism. “While the Indian film industry is called an ‘industry’, we’ve never really functioned like one. It’s extremely disorganised, and it’s about time we brought in proper systems and structure,” she told CNBC-TV18.
In a separate conversation with Brut India, she reiterated that her stance was not unreasonable. “I don’t think what I’m asking for is ridiculously unfair,” she said. “Only someone who’s worked in the system long enough will understand the kind of conditions we work in.”
She added that many women, including new mothers, have also shifted to eight-hour workdays, but their choices have gone unnoticed. “That didn’t make headlines either. So I don’t quite understand the outrage,” Padukone said.
The resurfaced clip and Padukone’s statements have reignited a broader conversation about discipline, gender bias, and professionalism in Bollywood — an industry that continues to grapple with balancing creativity and structure.
