Recent reports of a rift between Deepika Padukone and Farah Khan, fueled by social media activity, have been addressed by both parties. The rumors began after fans noticed that the two had unfollowed each other on Instagram, leading to speculation of a fallout. This speculation was further intensified after Farah Khan seemingly took a dig at Deepika's request for fewer work hours in one of her vlogs.
In the vlog, Farah Khan visited Rohit Saraf's house with her cook, Dilip. During the visit, Rohit mentioned that his mother had appeared on camera for the first time in Farah's vlog, after a year of waiting. Farah jokingly responded that Deepika hadn't taken as long to say yes to her film. Furthermore, when Dilip asked when Deepika would appear on their show, Farah replied that the actress now only shoots for eight hours a day and doesn't have time for their vlog. She said, "Deepika Padukone ab sirf 8 ghanta shoot karti hai, usko show pe aane ka time nahi hai (She now shoots only for 8 hours, she doesn't have time to come to our show)".
These comments were interpreted by some as a dig at Deepika Padukone, especially considering reports that the actress had been dropped from projects like Kalki 2898 AD and Spirit due to her insistence on an eight-hour workday, high pay, and a share in profits. Some reports also suggested that Deepika had demanded a 25% hike in her fees for Kalki 2898 AD, leading to her departure from the film.
However, Farah Khan has now clarified that there was no intention to offend Deepika. In an interview with Pinkvilla, she stated that she and Deepika were never following each other on Instagram to begin with. She explained that they had made a pact during the shooting of Happy New Year to communicate through direct messages and calls instead of Instagram. Farah also mentioned that they don't even post birthday wishes on Instagram because Deepika doesn't like it.
Addressing the "eight-hour workday" comment, Farah clarified that it was a joke directed at her cook, Dilip, and not a dig at Deepika. She said her intention was to make Dilip feel like he should also work eight hours, even though he typically only works for two. Farah further emphasized the strength of her friendship with Deepika, stating that she was one of the first people to visit Deepika after the birth of her daughter, Dua, and that not everything needs to be shared on social media.
Deepika Padukone has also responded to the rumors and Farah's clarification. She commented "Amen! (folded hands)" on a media portal's Instagram post about the issue, seemingly confirming that there is no bad blood between her and Farah Khan.
Farah Khan also addressed the tendency to create "fake controversies" and emphasized the importance of direct communication to avoid misunderstandings. She revealed that she makes it a point to call people directly before things escalate. She also refuted a previous accusation of ignoring Ayush Sharma at an event, clarifying that she simply hadn't seen him in the crowd.
