Mumbai: Actor Deepika Padukone has once again found herself at the centre of attention amid the ongoing debate over eight-hour work shifts in the film industry.
The actor, who has spoken about the importance of regulated working hours, is reportedly working night schedules and filming physically demanding action sequences for her upcoming action entertainer ‘Raaka’ while in her third trimester.
According to a report by Variety India, Deepika has been shooting almost every day to complete her portions before taking maternity leave.
“It is inspiring for everyone on the sets to see Deepika perform like this. Not to forget, she has a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter at home, who she also gets her unwavering attention,” a crew member was quoted as saying by the portal.
The debate surrounding eight-hour work shifts gained momentum after reports suggested that Deepika had walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’ and Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2’ over alleged differences regarding her work schedule.
The reports subsequently triggered a wider discussion in the film industry about working hours and the challenges faced by new mothers.
Meanwhile, directed by Atlee and headlined by Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone, ‘Raaka’ is being touted as one of the biggest upcoming spectacles in Indian cinema.
The film is set against a backdrop of science fiction and fantasy, combining large-scale action with an ambitious vision that has already generated significant buzz ahead of its scheduled 2027 release.
The film is also reportedly set to feature Rashmika Mandanna, Janhvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur in pivotal roles.
Besides Raaka, Deepika also has Siddharth Anand’s ‘King’, which features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead.
The film also stars Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Raghav Juyal, Abhay Verma, Saurabh Shukla and Rani Mukerji in key roles and is scheduled to hit theatres on December 24, 2026.
