Bollywood Weighs Move to Standard 8‑Hour Workday

Bollywood is facing growing calls to introduce a standard 8-hour work shift, sparked by stars like Deepika Padukone

There are serious debates in Bollywood regarding implementing an eight‑hour work shift as the norm. The debate follows several voices from actors, directors, and unions, which have identified long hours and unsettled schedules in film production and have raised concerns about health, safety, and well‑being.

The dialogue gained considerable publicity when the film industry star Deepika Padukone reportedly declared she would only do an eight‑hour shooting day after she became a mother. Deepika emphasized the importance of a better work‑life balance and that eight hours is a long enough day, especially for working mothers. Deepika’s perspective resulted in both a lot of support and a lot of criticism.

Supporters: Director Kabir Khan defended her by suggesting that if stars like Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar work eight‑hour days, Deepika should be entitled to the same consideration.

In January, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) sent Prime Minister Narendra Modi a letter indicating that crews and technicians frequently work 16-20 hours in a single day, for example, sometimes for multiple days, without appropriate breaks, wages, or safety.

They requested a structural change that would allow for regulated hours, contracts, timely payment, and improvements to working conditions.

Film editors and writers have started to organize as well. Building groups like Film Editors United have started building guidelines to limit shooting hours and are working toward being recognized by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

Why this matters

Studies show that working more than 60 hours a week is bad for mental health, and it reduces productivity per hour. Long, unregulated hours generate stress, fatigue, and safety problems on sets.

The debate isn’t just a moral one. Proponents argue that female actors, especially mothers, need equal consideration and flexibility, as their male counterparts do.

Establishing standard work time is viewed by the majority of participants as not only a move towards a more professional and worker-friendly film industry, but it also brings Bollywood to universal labour standards.

What are the concerns?

Creative impact: There is some concern that time restrictions can limit creativity, especially when it is spontaneous, when it counts. Sometimes there is the 11 p.m. magic moment when good stuff happens.

Practical logistics: Film productions can involve a variety of moving parts, locations, lighting, and travel. Producers worry an 8-hour time cap could throw a wrench into their plans.

Economic pressures: Especially with smaller budget productions, adding layers of regulation only complicates ongoing shooting days and increases overall costs.

Bollywood appears on the verge of change. At a moment when workers in other industries, such as TV, are already advocating for reasonable hours of work and days off, the focus has now turned to film. With people on both sides of the camera actively seeking a healthier balance, the current state of work options and practices for Indian cinema has reached a tipping point.

While there are plenty of passionate discussions about regulations governing eight-hour workdays in Bollywood, we need to remember that it is not just about scheduling.

This relates to fairness, creativity, safety, gender equity, and modernizing what has historically been accepted as hours of work in an industry where long hours and long days have been the common work practice.

Whether tradition ultimately gives way to structure will depend on the discussions with actors, filmmakers, workers, unions, and regulators moving forward.

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