Amidst the ongoing discussion surrounding Deepika Padukone's reported request for eight-hour work shifts in Bollywood, Rani Mukerji has shared her perspective, drawing from her own experiences of balancing work and motherhood. The debate ignited after reports suggested that Padukone's demand led to her exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film "Spirit," starring Prabhas. This sparked an industry-wide conversation about work-life balance, especially for women in cinema.
Rani Mukerji, known for her performances in films like "Ghulam," "No One Killed Jessica," "Mardaani," and the recent "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway," recalled her experience shooting for the 2018 film "Hichki" when her daughter Adira was just 14 months old. In an interview with ANI, Mukerji said that she was still breastfeeding her daughter during that time. To manage both her responsibilities, she had to pump milk and go to work in the morning, shooting in a college located in the town.
Mukerji emphasized how her schedule was carefully designed around her daughter's needs. Considering the two-hour commute from her Juhu home to the shooting location, she would leave at 6:30 a.m. after expressing milk. Her first shot was scheduled for 8 a.m., and she would wrap up by 12:30 or 1 p.m. She praised her unit and director for their meticulous planning, which allowed her to complete her shoot within 6-7 hours and return home by 3 p.m., before the traffic worsened. "And I did my film like that," she added.
Mukerji also highlighted that flexible working hours have always been based on mutual understanding. She noted that these conversations are gaining visibility because they are being discussed publicly. She stated that in any profession, if the producer agrees to shorter hours, the actor can proceed with the project; otherwise, they can opt out. She emphasized that it's a choice, and nobody is forcing anything on anybody.
The actress also addressed the double standards faced by women in the film industry. She pointed out that female actors often have to pause or adapt their careers after motherhood, while their male counterparts rarely face the same expectations. Mukerji, who recently won the Best Actress award at the 71st National Film Awards for her performance in "Mrs Chatterjee vs. Norway", highlighted the physical and emotional transformations women undergo after becoming mothers. She said that men do not have to go through the physical transformation that women do. She expressed her happiness being a woman and stated that the experience of giving birth is the closest one comes to God because they are creating a life.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone's reported demand for an eight-hour shift has been a subject of debate. Following her motherhood in September 2024, she reportedly requested a standard eight-hour shift for her film shoots. When her demand was not met, she allegedly opted out of "Spirit". Subsequently, reports claimed that she also exited the sequel of "Kalki 2898 AD," with some sources suggesting she demanded a 25% increase in her fee, along with a seven-hour shift cap and additional payment for every extra hour worked.
