Updated On: 27 July, 2025 04:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Deepika Padukone’s request for an 8-hour workday post-motherhood reportedly led to her exit from Spirit, sparking debate in the industry. Farah Khan, during a chat with Radhikka Madan, appeared to take a subtle dig at the demand, hinting that long hours are part of the grind

Farah Khan and Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone sparked a conversation around 8-hour shifts in the film industry after walking out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit with Prabhas. It was reported that the actress’s request to work 8-hour days after embracing motherhood was not accepted by the filmmaker. Since then, the topic of shift hours in the industry has become a subject of debate. And now, it seems Deepika’s first director, Farah Khan, may have reacted to the issue.
Farah Khan, who runs a YouTube vlog with her cook Dilip, recently visited actress Radhikka Madan's home for an episode. On the show, Radhikka recalled her first audition for the TV show Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi.
"The moment the camera was switched on, I felt very safe. I’d never felt that safe in my life. I wanted to be a professional dancer. The way I used to feel on stage—where you can’t see anyone else—I felt the same in front of the camera. I thought, ‘Of course, they won’t take me,’ but within three days I got a call for a look test, and two days later I was shooting for my first show," she shared.