Actor Deepika Padukone has sparked a heated debate in the industry after reportedly exiting two big-ticket films, Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, over an eight-hour work shift demand.
The controversy emerged when Deepika walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit, starring Prabhas, reportedly due to disagreements over creative terms and a request for an eight-hour workday.
Her departure led to Triptii Dimri taking her place, and the makers of Kalki 2898 AD also announced her exit from the sequel through a post on X, sparking online debate about professionalism, work-hour limits, and remuneration in high-budget projects.
Deepika has since liked a social media post defending her demands, which noted how the actor called out the industry's hypocrisy, saying male actors have been working on fixed-hour shifts for years, but when a female actor demands the same, it becomes a 'tantrum.'
The debate has resurfaced on social media, with many big names in the industry weighing in, including Kareena Kapoor and Rana Daggubati.
