‘No One Forced You To Be Here’: Veteran Actor Rajendra Chawla Reacts To 8-Hour Shift Controversy

The debate around work-life balance in Bollywood and reasonable working hours in the film industry has gained significant momentum ever since Deepika Padukone requested an 8-hour shift after becoming a mother. Recently, veteran actor Rajendra Chawla shared his perspective, expressing disagreement with this idea.

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rajendra Chawla emphasized that anyone entering the entertainment industry must be mentally prepared for long working hours. He said, “If you are coming into this industry, you have to realise from day one that this is how it works. You have to accept that shifts often extend to 12–14 hours because the volume of work has increased tremendously.”

Explaining the practical challenges, especially in television, Chawla highlighted that daily soaps require delivering nearly 22–25 minutes of content every day. He remarked, “If you keep thinking, ‘I will work only 8 hours or 5 hours,’ then how will the work get done? If you’ve entered this race, you have to run according to its pace.” He further suggested that those unwilling to accept this reality might consider a regular 9-to-5 job, adding, “No one has forced you to be here. It’s better to sleep tired than to sleep frustrated.”

Rajendra Chawla also pointed out how working conditions for actors have improved significantly over the years. Reflecting on earlier times, he said women often had to change clothes in open spaces or behind trees, with no air-conditioned makeup rooms or vanity vans available. He recalled that actors like Amitabh Bachchan used to sit in full costume under the scorching sun, whereas today, actors can relax comfortably in their vanity vans when not required on set.

Sharing a personal anecdote from his television show Saas Bina Sasural, Chawla remembered a supervising producer once asking why he never complained. He responded by comparing current comforts to his theatre days, when actors slept on rugs in insect-infested rooms. “You guys have given me a vanity van, fruits, and a bedsheet with my name on it. What should I complain about?” he said.

Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone had earlier addressed issues related to working hours and pay parity in Bollywood during an interview with CNBC-TV18. She mentioned that she has fought her battles silently and with dignity, and clarified that public debates around her demands were never intentional.