• Source:JND
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After Deepika Padukone spoke out about the demanding work culture in the Indian film industry, filmmaker Hansal Mehta has voiced similar concerns, criticising the normalisation of exhaustion and long working hours. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Scam 1992 director shared a detailed note highlighting the harsh realities faced by those working in the entertainment industry, especially daily wage workers who often endure the toughest conditions on set.

Hansal Mehta began his post by pointing out how long working hours have become an accepted part of filmmaking. “In our line of work, a 12-hour day is politely called a ‘shift’. The truth is, between the chaos of shoots, the endless commute, hurried meals, and barely a few hours of broken sleep, there’s little left of us,” he wrote. He questioned where mental and physical well-being fit into such a system, adding that weekends are rarely observed, and breaks are often discouraged. The director stressed that somewhere along the way, exhaustion became normalised and rest turned into a privilege. “Sometimes I wonder: can this really be called an industry if it runs on the relentless draining of its people?” he added, drawing attention to the unsustainable nature of the film industry’s current work environment.

Furthermore, in his note, Mehta particularly spoke about daily wage workers, calling them the “hardest hit.” These crew members, he explained, are the first to arrive on set and the last to leave, often working in tough and inhumane conditions. “On television, it’s worse, and now even OTT and films have slipped into the same pattern,” he said. According to Mehta, the growing presence of international production houses has done little to change things — instead of improving the system, they have adapted to existing broken structures because it is profitable to do so. The filmmaker urged the industry to prioritise well-being and introduce fairer work practices. “If we cared about our own well-being, and especially for those who hold up the base of this pyramid, we’d not only work better but live better. The irony is that quality, efficiency, and even profit would follow. But first, we need to stop scoffing at the simple idea of rest,” he concluded.

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone Breaks Silence On 8 Hours Shift Demand Row: ‘Lot Of Male Actors Have Been Doing Same For Years…’

Meanwhile, Hansal Mehta’s post comes shortly after Deepika Padukone’s interview with CNBC-TV18, where she addressed gender bias and working conditions in the industry. The actress said, “By virtue of being a woman, if that comes across as being pushy, then so be it. But it’s no secret that many male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working eight-hour shifts for years, and it’s never made headlines.”