Recently, Deepika Padukone made a lot of headlines after she quit Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit due to motherhood and a couple of other reasons. Her exit from the film started a debate in the film industry about the work policy regarding new moms. Many celebs gave their insights and shared their views.
Just a few days ago, Ajay Devgn, at the trailer launch of Kajol’s Maa, extended his support to Deepika. He addressed the ongoing debate over an eight-hour work shift demand for new moms. The Raid 2 actor hinted that the demand is rarely taken well in the industry. He said, “It's not that it's not going down well with people. Most of the honest filmmakers will not have problems with it."
Now, in an interview, Radhika Apte, being a new mom herself, revealed the challenges mothers face in the industry.
Radhika Apte says Bollywood isn't easy for new moms
Credits: Instagram/radhikaofficial
In an interview with Screen, the actress spoke about how the film industry functions for new mothers like her. “I don’t think they are. I don’t know how I’m going to navigate that going ahead,” she said when asked whether the industry is accepting of the needs of new moms.
Radhika Apte continued to talk about the issue and added, “It’s really difficult to work in our film industry, given the number of hours and how we film generally and the time for which we don’t get to see the child. So I guess I’ll just have to figure it out now."
Credits: Instagram/deepikapadukone
Radhika’s statement comes at a time when Deepika walked out of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming project, Spirit. According to reports, Deepika’s request for eight-hour workdays instead of longer filming schedules became the reason for her exit. Some reports say one of the reasons for Deepika’s exit was also that the film had a lot of bold scenes, and maybe it was Deepika’s discomfort that led to her exit.
Credits: Viral Bhayani
Before Ajay and Radhika, actor Saif Ali Khan came forward in support of the need for more family time for actors. During a recent discussion at the Arab Media Summit, the actor shared the struggle of balancing professional commitments with family moments while working in the industry.
He said, “I hate coming home and seeing the kids already asleep. That's not success. Success is being able to say, 'No, I need to go home now to catch that half hour with them.' We get four holidays a year, and when my kids are on break, I don't work. That time is sacred… Working is important, yes. But so is cooking pasta together, having a meal, and focusing on the kids. That's the real glue of life. Success and privilege, for me, is being able to say no to work and yes to time with my family.”
Deepika Padukone on facing mother's guilt
Credits: Instagram/deepikapadukone
During an interview, Deepika said that she often has to remind herself to reconnect with her own life, but the feeling of guilt lingers. “I do have to tell myself that your life doesn’t end the minute you have a child, and that you do need to get back to your life, or at least a part of your life before you had a baby…but every moment where I’m not able to be with her, there is guilt," she said.
In the same interview, she also said that a director once made a remark on her for taking motherhood seriously.
Deepika Padukone on parenting Dua
Credits: Instagram/deepikapadukone
Deepika also said that she and Ranveer are ‘aligned’ when it comes to parenting and want to “be there for Dua’s every need.” She said they don’t care about the criticism that comes their way for that.
“Whether it's what movies I want to do…how I want to live my life or the things that I'm really passionate about, and beyond that, it doesn't even matter what anyone else thinks. I am someone who has always been able to tune out and just listen to my instinct,” concluded Deepika.
Social and lead images credit: Instagram/deepikapadukone, Instagram/radhikaofficial
