Famous filmmaker Mani Ratnam has supported actress Deepika Padukone’s request for an 8-hour workday. He said it’s a fair demand, especially since Deepika is a new mother who wants to spend time with her daughter.
In an interview , while promoting his new movie Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan, Ratnam talked about the need for better work-life balance in the film industry. He said, “It’s fair if she’s a young mother and needs to care for her child. She should be allowed to work in a way that doesn’t affect her family life.”
He also praised Deepika for speaking up, saying, “It’s great when women ask for what they want and get it. That’s a healthy sign.”
This comes after director Sandeep Reddy Vanga reportedly called Deepika “unprofessional.” Reports say Deepika had asked for 8-hour shifts while working on Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, but the director replaced her with Triptii Dimri, who had worked with him before in Animal.
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Deepika has made it clear that spending time with her family is a priority. When asked if the film industry should support such requests, Mani Ratnam replied, “I think so.” He added, “If it doesn’t work for your film, move on. But respect the person asking. It’s a fair and necessary demand.”
His support has sparked a bigger conversation in Bollywood about better working hours, especially for parents. Actor Saif Ali Khan also spoke about this recently at the Arab Media Summit 2025, saying, “I hate coming home and seeing my kids already asleep. That’s not success. Success is being there for them.”
Actors Kajol and Ajay Devgn also agreed with Deepika’s demand. Devgn said, “Most good filmmakers won’t have a problem with 8-hour shifts for new moms. Also, many people in the industry are now working 8-hour days. It depends on the person, but most understand.”
Mani Ratnam’s support shows that more people in the film industry are now accepting structured work hours and the importance of personal life, especially for parents. The old idea of working round-the-clock is slowly changing.
Thug Life, which brings together Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan after nearly 40 years, is set to release on June 5.
