Director Aditya Dhar Denies Deepika Padukone's Alleged 8-Hour Shift Demand on Dhurandhar Set

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 11:09 GMT by RepublicWorld
      Locale: INDIA

Director Aditya Dhar Denies Deepika Padukone’s Alleged “8‑Hour Shift” Demand on Dhurandhar Set

When rumours began swirling that Deepika Padukone was demanding an “8‑hour shift” for the shooting of her upcoming film Dhurandhar, the buzz spread faster than the film’s promotion schedule. The allegation — that Padukone was pressuring the cast and crew to work a fixed 8‑hour block, which the director claimed was “unfair” and “disruptive”— sparked a firestorm of speculation across social‑media channels. In response, Aditya Dhar, the creative force behind the movie, stepped in to set the record straight.

The Back‑Story: Dhurandhar and Its Cast

Dhurandhar is a biographical drama that follows the life of a pioneering investigative journalist, portrayed by Ranveer Singh. The film also features Deepika Padukone in a pivotal supporting role, and is directed by Aditya Dhar, who has previously helmed projects such as Jab Harry Met Sejal and Yashoda. The production was slated for a fairly standard shoot in Mumbai, with a schedule that included some night‑time sequences and tight deadlines, but nothing that required a rigid “shift” system.

The film’s promotional team released a teaser that showcased the director, the actors, and a glimpse of the set’s daily operations. Behind the scenes, the crew was seen juggling lighting setups, rehearsals, and the typical challenges of a period drama. No official announcement ever mentioned an 8‑hour shift or any special working conditions.

The Rumour That Started It All

The rumor began with a screenshot of a purported Instagram post that was traced back to a former crew member. In the post, the crew member claimed that Padukone had requested a “fixed 8‑hour shift” for the crew, implying that any extra time spent would be “unpaid” or “unnecessary.” The image was reposted by a number of Bollywood gossip outlets, amplifying the narrative that Padukone was enforcing a rigid schedule that was at odds with the director’s usual flexible approach.

Rumours of this nature are not new in Bollywood. The industry has a history of rumors about star‑led production decisions leaking into the public domain before they are verified by any official source. However, the fact that this rumor specifically involved an “8‑hour shift” — a term more commonly associated with factory or call‑center jobs than with a film set — made it even more peculiar.

Aditya Dhar’s Public Response

Shortly after the rumor began trending, Aditya Dhar posted a short video clip on his personal Instagram account. In the clip, he calmly states: “I have never heard of such a demand from Deepika. She is a professional and a very supportive colleague.” He went on to explain that the production schedule for Dhurandhar was built around the needs of the story, not arbitrary shift lengths. “The team was flexible and there was no ‘8‑hour shift’ policy,” he says. He further emphasized that the rumor was “unverified” and that “there is no official statement or contract that outlines such a demand.”

Dhar also highlighted that the cast and crew, including Padukone, worked on a “project‑based” timetable. “We would finish a scene when it was ready, not because of a clock,” he clarified. The director’s post ended with a request for fans to respect the privacy of the crew and not to spread unverified information.

The video was quickly shared across Bollywood fan pages, and the director’s clarification received a mostly positive response. Many fans appreciated the transparency and the fact that the director was willing to address rumours head‑on, rather than ignoring them.

Deepika Padukone’s Silence

Deepika Padukone herself did not issue an official statement regarding the alleged shift demand. However, her own Instagram feed showed her sharing behind‑the‑scenes photos of the set, with captions that stressed the fun and collaborative spirit of the shoot. In one post, she commented that “the energy on the set was amazing, and we were all working hard to bring the story to life.” No mention was made of any rigid working hours.

In interviews following the rumor, Padukone’s manager and production house spokesperson reaffirmed that there were no contractual or managerial constraints being imposed by the actress. They said, “We do not have any reason to suspect that there is a demand for an 8‑hour shift, and we are satisfied with the current working arrangements.”

The Broader Context: Bollywood Production Practices

In the Indian film industry, working hours on a set can vary widely, depending on the director’s style, the genre, and the schedule. Directors like Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap are known for demanding long hours, while others prefer a more relaxed approach. In many cases, actors and crew negotiate for certain conditions, such as a “minimum daily break” or “maximum working hours.” These arrangements are typically recorded in contractual documents, which are rarely made public.

Dhar’s clarification fits within a broader industry trend where rumors about “rigid schedules” often stem from misunderstandings. In a previous instance, the director of the film Chhichhore was accused of making his crew work in “shift” modes, but it was later clarified that the production simply followed a “tight schedule” because of financial constraints.

The Dhurandhar rumor is another example of how quickly misinformation can spread. In the age of social media, a single screenshot can become the basis of an entire narrative, only for it to be dismissed later by those involved. Dhar’s proactive response demonstrates a growing trend of filmmakers engaging directly with audiences to dispel myths.

The Bottom Line

The “8‑hour shift” rumor about Deepika Padukone on the Dhurandhar set is, according to Aditya Dhar, a misunderstanding that gained traction due to an unverified post. The director’s public video clarified that there was no such demand, that the working hours were flexible and story‑driven, and that the crew was operating on a project‑based schedule. Padukone herself has remained silent on the matter, but her own social‑media presence suggests a collaborative and flexible working environment.

Ultimately, the situation underscores how rumors can distort the public’s perception of film production dynamics. For fans and journalists alike, the lesson is to verify sources before drawing conclusions, especially when it involves star‑power and the creative processes that shape Bollywood movies.