Abhiruchi Cookery Show -13th April

The debate surrounding Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for an eight-hour workday continues to gain momentum, with actress Kajal Aggarwal coming out in support of the idea. Kajal revealed that after becoming a mother, she too introduced specific working-hour clauses in her film contracts to strike a better balance between her career and family life.

In a recent interview with Zoom, Kajal said she now clearly specifies her working hours and does not work on Sundays so she can dedicate that time to her son.

“I also have clauses written in my contract now where I specify my working hours and say that I don’t work on Sundays, so that I can dedicate that time to my child. I can’t work around the clock like I used to,” she said.

The actress added that artists spend years building their careers to reach a stage where they have the freedom to make such choices. She argued that fixed working hours are common in many professions and should not be viewed as an unreasonable request in the film industry.

“It’s all about priorities. You work so hard to eventually be in a position of choice, to be in a place where you can make a very simple request, and it’s not too much to ask for. It happens in the corporate world. It happens everywhere. Why not in the film industry as well?” Kajal said.

Kajal joins a growing list of celebrities supporting Deepika’s reported stand. Earlier, Kangana Ranaut also defended the actress, saying Deepika had earned the right to decide her work schedule after spending nearly two decades as one of the industry’s leading stars.

Kangana noted that both she and Deepika began their careers around the same period and worked long hours during their early years. According to her, newcomers often have limited bargaining power, but established stars are in a position to negotiate working conditions. She also highlighted the additional responsibilities many working women shoulder at home, making work-life balance even more important.

The discussion began after reports claimed that Deepika sought an eight-hour work schedule following the birth of her daughter, Dua. The issue drew widespread attention after her reported exit from two major projects, Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. While various reasons were linked to those developments, her reported request for shorter working hours became one of the central talking points.

Deepika later addressed the broader issue, stating that several leading male actors have reportedly worked eight-hour shifts or followed Monday-to-Friday schedules for years without attracting similar scrutiny. She questioned why the same expectation becomes controversial when raised by a female actor.

The conversation has since expanded beyond a single actress, evolving into a wider debate about work-life balance, gender equality, and whether women—especially mothers—should have the same freedom as their male counterparts to negotiate professional working conditions. Kajal Aggarwal’s comments have further strengthened that discussion, adding another prominent voice in support of greater flexibility in the film industry.