Deepak Parashar Says Deepika’s 8-Hour Shift Push Good, More Needs To Be Done
MUMBAI – Veteran actor Deepak Parashar has argued that Deepika Padukone’s advocacy for an eight-hour work shift is “nullified” when applied to struggling actors. While acknowledging that Padukone has raised critical issues regarding working hours and maternity leave, Parashar highlighted a significant disconnect between industry superstars and those fighting for survival.
He pointed out that these concerns rarely impact those at the top. “Most of the top people don’t have any problems, neither of money, nor of time, nor of survival,” Parashar said. “Issues of needy actors don’t really matter to them because everything works according to them. They are the selling factor.”
Parashar expressed skepticism that industry bigwigs would ever participate in public protests for their peers. “Now who among them will come and stand on the streets for these needy actors? I don’t think that’s going to be possible,” he remarked.
Instead, senior artistes are now leading the charge for change. Parashar noted that for the first time, known faces such as Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapuri, and Upasana Singh have united to solve these systemic problems. Having worked in the industry for 46 years, Parashar emphasized that this veteran group is stepping up where others have not.
While he acknowledged the significant financial aid provided by stars like Hrithik Roshan, Sonu Sood, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Akshay Kumar during the COVID-19 crisis, he maintained that large-scale, unanimous action remains difficult without a unified body. Parashar noted that the expansion of television has made the industry too vast for a single Cine Artists Association to manage effectively.
Parashar suggested that resolution may now only be possible at the political level. He expressed hope for institutional support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and veteran actor Arun Govil. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Parashar remains one of Bollywood’s most respected veteran voices.(IANS)
