Aditya Dhar on Bollywood Work-Hours: My Team Worked 16–18 Hours for 1.5 Years

While Deepika Padukone calls for 8-hour post-maternity shifts, Dhar highlights passion-driven long hours, sparking debate over sustainable work practices in the film industry.

xA heated debate over work-hour reform in Bollywood continues to gain momentum after reports that new mother Deepika Padukone is seeking an 8-hour shift on her post-maternity projects. While much of the conversation has centred around the need for humane, regulated schedules, filmmaker Aditya Dhar has offered a contrasting perspective shaped by his own filmmaking experience.

Speaking at the trailer launch of Dhurandhar , Dhar revealed that his cast and crew worked relentlessly for nearly one and a half years. “The actors, the HODs, assistants, even the spot staff — everyone worked 16 to 18 hours continuously,”