Actor Deepika Padukone has finally addressed the controversy surrounding her recent exits from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. The row began after reports suggested that Deepika had requested an 8-hour workday on set, which allegedly led to disagreements with the makers. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Deepika shared her perspective, highlighting the industry’s double standards.

Reacting to the criticism, Deepika said, “By virtue of being a woman, if that's coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it.” She went on to point out the hypocrisy in how male actors are treated for the same requests. “It is no secret that a lot of male superstars in the Indian film industry have been working for eight hours for years, and it's never made headlines,” she said.

Without naming anyone, she emphasized that this practice is well-known within the industry. “Many male actors work Monday to Friday, eight hours a day, and do not work on weekends. This has been the norm for them,” she added.

Deepika also addressed the larger issue of how the Indian film industry operates, calling it "very disorganised" despite being referred to as an "industry." She stressed the need for more professionalism and structure. “I think it's time we brought some system into this culture,” she said.

The controversy intensified when she stepped away from Spirit, reportedly due to her preference for shorter shooting hours to prioritize time with her daughter, Dua. Her request was reportedly not accommodated, leading to her decision to exit the project. Soon after, production house Vyjayanthi Movies also confirmed her exit from the Kalki sequel, citing the need for a greater level of “commitment” for a film of such scale.

Despite the fallout, Deepika has already moved on to her next project. She recently began filming for King, directed by Siddharth Anand, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan. She is also set to appear alongside Allu Arjun in Atlee’s upcoming film, AA22xA6.