Ali Fazal says it is 'not about taking sides' as he weighs in on Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand: 'This is not like a corporate job... You can't put a template'

Ali Fazal is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the growing debate around work-life balance in the film industry—sparked by Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for an 8-hour workday on Spirit. As the conversation continues to stir headlines, Fazal brings a grounded perspective, reminding everyone that creativity isn’t one-size-fits-all and insisting the focus should be on mutual respect rather than taking sides.

“It’s Not a Corporate Job”

In a conversation with Screen, Ali addressed Deepika Padukone’s reported request for an 8-hour workday, which allegedly led to her stepping away from Spirit. Sharing his views, Fazal said he supports everyone finding satisfaction in their work. He noted that filmmaking isn’t a typical corporate job and shouldn’t be treated like one.

A Call for Collaboration and Compassion

The Metro…In Dino actor further emphasized that work hours on a film set should be a collaborative decision.

He stressed that creativity requires compassion and understanding, and such matters—like the distribution of hours on a project like Spirit—should be discussed and agreed upon by actors, creators, and technicians alike.He further elaborated on his stance by pointing out that different genres come with different demands, making it unrealistic to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to work shifts in the film industry.

He explained that VFX-heavy projects may require less physical time on set, while action or drama films demand more. According to him, the nature of filmmaking is inherently subjective, and imposing rigid standards or asking people to take sides in such debates is both harsh and unfair.

Deepika’s Reported Demands Sparked the Conversation

Deepika Padukone was initially in advanced discussions to star opposite Prabhas in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit. However, the collaboration didn’t come through, and Vanga later confirmed Triptii Dimri as the new female lead.

According to media reports, Deepika’s exit was due to multiple creative and logistical differences—one of which was her reported request for a limited 6 to 8-hour work shift, sparking wider conversations around work-life balance in the film industry.Reportedly, Deepika Padukone’s demands also included opting out of dubbing in Telugu, a substantial fee of Rs 40 crore, and a share in the film’s profits.Following her exit from Spirit, Deepika Padukone moved on to sign Allu Arjun’s high-profile film A22×A6, which will be directed by Jawan filmmaker Atlee. The star-studded cast also includes Mrunal Thakur, Janhvi Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna. As per an exclusive report by Pinkvilla, Deepika is set to play one of the negative leads in the film.