Madhuri Dixit Responds to Deepika Padukone’s 8-Hour Shift Debate, Calls Herself a Workaholic

Madhuri Dixit has responded to the growing industry conversation around work hours sparked by Deepika Padukone’s preference for an 8-hour shift, a topic that has led to widespread debate following Deepika’s reported exit from Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel.

Speaking about her own experience, Madhuri described herself as a “workaholic” and noted that she routinely worked 12-hour shifts for her upcoming series Mrs Deshpande. She emphasised that every woman should have the autonomy to decide how long she wants to work.

In an interview with ANI, Madhuri said,
“When we did Mrs Deshpande, we were working 12-hour shifts every day, sometimes more. I’m a workaholic, so maybe it’s different for me. But if a woman has the power to say ‘these are the hours I want to work,’ that is her prerogative. It’s her life and her choice. More power to her.”

Her comments come at a time when Deepika Padukone has defended her request for an 8-hour workday, asserting in a CNBC-TV18 interview that women should not be labelled “pushy” for setting boundaries. She also noted that many male actors have maintained similar work limits without attracting criticism, highlighting a persistent double standard.

Deepika further pointed out that despite being called an “industry,” the film ecosystem often remains “disorganised,” leading to unrealistic expectations on actors’ schedules.

Madhuri’s upcoming series Mrs Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, is the official Indian adaptation of the French thriller La Mante. The story revolves around a serial killer who agrees to help authorities track down a copycat murderer, but only if she works exclusively with her estranged son. The series releases on December 19 on JioHotstar.