Actor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu has joined the ongoing conversation around work hours and work-life balance in the film industry. During a recent episode of the podcast All About Her, hosted by his wife Soha Ali Khan, the actor appeared alongside his brother-in-law Saif Ali Khan for a candid discussion centred around the theme of “Men and Women.”
Kunal Kemmu reacts to the 8-hour work shift demand amid Deepika Padukone work debate: “You can’t say I want to get paid more and I want to work less”
During the conversation, Kunal shared his perspective on professional choices, personal priorities, and the expectations that come with them.
“I feel that when we become 18 and when we are choosing governments of our country, we also have to choose what we want in life, what we signed up for. We sometimes say that we want to work for only so much time and want to spend time here… then you leave the job. Then don’t say that I want to be the biggest superstar and I want to be working in 10 films in a year. You choose what you want to do and know that it will come with its pros and cons, that you have signed up for it. You can’t say I want to get paid more and I want to work less.”
He also reflected on how attitudes toward work have shifted across generations, noting that conversations around professional expectations often differ between millennials and Gen Z.
“Of course. I am not just saying gender and actors. I am saying when we are talking about generations, like Gen Z, we have this whole conversation that Gen Z does not want to work too much and millennials used to do that. They had only so much hours, but they also had the lifestyle of chilling and doing self-exploration trips.”
Kunal further illustrated the complexity of the debate while speaking partly in Hindi:
“Toh phir woh mat bolo ki 12 ghante kaam kar ke aapse zyada salary le raha hain. Woh bhi problem hain. Lekin woh holiday pe nahi jaa raha hain, woh bhi problem hain. Aap ko jaana hain lekin kam paise mil raha hain toh woh bhi problem hain.”
(Translation: “Then don’t say that someone working 12 hours is earning more than you — that becomes a problem. But if that person isn’t going on holidays, that’s also seen as a problem. If you want to go on holidays but are earning less money, that becomes a problem too.”)
The discussion comes amid the ongoing debate surrounding work schedules in the film industry, which intensified in 2025 after Deepika Padukone reportedly exited Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas. Reports suggested the disagreement stemmed from the actress requesting a fixed eight-hour workday following the birth of her daughter, sparking widespread discussion across the industry about labour practices, burnout, and gender bias.
While opinions within the film fraternity remain divided, Kunal Kemmu’s remarks highlight how the conversation continues to evolve as actors and filmmakers navigate the balance between personal priorities and professional demands.
Also Read: Ananya Panday backs Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour shift demand for mothers; says “Everyone is allowed to have that conversation”
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