Pankaj Tripathi opens up about 16–18 hour workdays, says he's learning to say 'No'

Deepika Padukone has started an important movement in the film industry. She left Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movie Spirit because he didn’t agree to her request for an 8-hour work shift. After Ajay Devgn and Mani Ratnam supported her, actor Pankaj Tripathi also talked about the importance of saying “No” on set.

Now, many actors are supporting her stand.Pankaj Talks About Learning to Say ‘No’In an interview with Anupama Chopra for The Hollywood Reporter, Pankaj Tripathi shared that saying ‘No’ has always been hard for him. But now, he is learning to set limits. He said everyone should know their own boundaries and politely say ‘No’ when needed, especially about long working hours on set.Long Work HoursThe actor shared his frustration over working very long hours on set.

He recalled times when his shifts stretched to 16–18 hours. Expressing his annoyance, he joked, “The actor has left, only the labour is working now,” highlighting how tiring it can get during such extended shoots.Boundaries on Work HoursPankaj Tripathi said he has now decided to politely say no to working beyond his limits. With folded hands in the interview, he shared that he will start telling directors, “Whatever is left will be done the next day."

Deepika Exits 'Spirit' Over Work Hour DisputeDeepika Padukone recently walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit opposite Prabhas. She had asked for an 8-hour workday and a fee of ₹40 crore, which the director reportedly declined. As a result, Triptii Dimri has replaced her in the project.Pankaj's New Projects and RumoursPankaj Tripathi’s latest series, 'Criminal Justice Season 4', is currently streaming, but fans are upset as only 3 episodes remain. Meanwhile, rumours are spreading that he might replace Paresh Rawal as Baburao in 'Hera Pheri 3' after an AI-generated image went viral. However, this has not been confirmed.