Ajay Devgn Backs Deepika Padukone Amid Eight-Hour Workday Debate

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – Ajay Devgn has come out in support of eight-hour workdays for mothers in the film industry—a topic that gained traction following reports of Deepika Padukone’s exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit.

Speaking at the trailer launch of Maa, a film he co-produced starring Kajol, Devgn said he believes most sincere filmmakers wouldn’t object to such demands. “Most of the honest filmmakers will not have problems with it,” he remarked. “Being a mother and working for eight hours—most people have started working eight- to nine-hour shifts. It’s person to person, and I feel most of the industry understands this.”

His comments come amid speculation that Padukone walked away from Spirit due to scheduling concerns, including a request to limit her workdays to eight hours—a condition reportedly at the heart of her decision. While Devgn didn’t mention Padukone or Spirit by name, his remarks were widely interpreted as support for her stance.

Padukone was originally cast opposite Prabhas in the Vanga-directed project, a collaboration between T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures. Following her reported departure, Animal star Triptii Dimri has been confirmed as the film’s new female lead.

The situation escalated further when director Sandeep Reddy Vanga posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter). Without naming anyone, he expressed his disappointment over a perceived breach of trust: “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100 per cent faith. There is an unsaid NDA between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are…”

While neither side has officially commented on the specifics, the incident has sparked broader conversations around workplace conditions for women in the film industry—especially for new mothers balancing career and family.