Is Bollywood prepared for the 8-hour shift? Anand Pandit, Rahul Dholakia, Kumar Sanu and others weigh in on the battle between burnout and brilliance – Unique | Hindi Film Information
In an business that has lengthy prided itself on its unpredictability, relentless tempo, and obsession with “the proper shot,” the very concept of a structured 8-hour taking pictures shift as soon as appeared laughable. Bollywood shoots are infamous for his or her sprawling hours, delayed schedules, and spontaneous bursts of genius that strike at 3 a.m. relatively than 3 p.m. However that norm is now being questioned.The flashpoint got here when Deepika Padukone walked out of Prabhas starrer Spirit, a movie by Kabir Singh and Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, resulting from considerations over exhaustive taking pictures schedules. With motherhood now an integral a part of her life, the choice wasn’t simply private—it was symbolic of a generational shift.This ETimes characteristic dives into the center of that query — asking not simply whether or not 8-hour shifts are possible, however whether or not they’re essential for the well being and way forward for Indian cinema. From ‘grind tradition’ to ‘deliberate creativity’
The old-school pleasure in overwork — actors boasting about hopping between three units a day, crew members sleeping in vans, and night time shifts that final till dawn — is more and more being seen not as dedication, however as dysfunction.Producer Anand Pandit believes it is excessive time Bollywood sheds its previous pores and skin. “We’re well beyond the period when stars used to work in a number of shifts and endure burnout,” he says. “It’s wholesome to work smarter than longer. Akshay Kumar, as an example, is thought to work in well-managed, crisp shifts and it is a follow that’s catching on.”Pandit additionally factors out that as we speak’s actors—notably youthful ones—are much more vocal about boundaries, self-care, and psychological well being than their predecessors. “Every actor will reply otherwise. There isn’t a single rulebook, and that’s an excellent factor. The truth that we’re even having this dialog is progress,” he provides.Cash, momentum, and the parable of extra hours
One of many central arguments towards shorter shifts is financial. Extra days on set imply extra rental prices, crew bills, and time-sensitive logistics. “Sure, fewer hours sometimes imply extra shoot days, which might enhance budgets,” Pandit admits. “Nevertheless, with tighter scheduling, good pre-production, and minimal wastage, the rise in prices could be absorbed—and even offset.”Kumar Sanu, who has skilled many years of Indian movie and music manufacturing, agrees that filmmaking is time-intensive. “It takes loads of time simply to arrange cameras or tweak the lighting. However actors and administrators needs to be searching for one another. Deepika being a brand new mother—her considerations are legitimate. Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s artistic course of is legitimate too. Each are proper in their very own methods.”He provides, “Finances and time allotted can put stress on the artistic staff, however we additionally need to see that there have been actually good and fulfilling motion pictures and actually unhealthy motion pictures made in the identical time as one another. Creativity is within the thoughts of the filmmaking crew. Placing a quantity to it doesn’t make any sense. It’s depending on the artistic staff and the way a lot time they want. If we make a sure quantity an business customary, it’d have an effect on some and it won’t have an effect on others. Slandering or bashing actors or administrators is just not the best way to deal with this debate.”Creativity, Sanu factors out, doesn’t obey the clock. “Some wonderful movies have been made briefly spans, and a few flops took without end. I recorded Kuch Na Kaho in 9 minutes—it was a rehearsal—nevertheless it turned a superhit. Time is just not the deciding issue—mindset and preparedness are.”“The actors are pampered — it’s the crew we neglect”
Director Rahul Dholakia introduces a essential layer to the dialogue—the unseen, unheard crew.“The sunshine males, spot boys, manufacturing employees—they’re the primary to reach and the final to depart,” he stresses. “Their name occasions are at the very least an hour earlier than others, and generally two hours sooner than lead actors. If we shorten shifts with out recalibrating for them, they’re those who are suffering most.”Dholakia recommends a 10-hour shift mannequin—with 8 hours of taking pictures and a 2-hour buffer. “Lunch breaks in India aren’t fast. Individuals want their nashta, their chai. That eats into time. So manufacturing has to compensate for that if we’re critical about shorter shifts.”He additionally advocates for correct turnaround time. “In case you wrap late, you want at the very least 10 hours earlier than the following day’s name time. Sadly, solely top-tier expertise will get that luxurious proper now.”Effectivity fashions from the South and pastA number of voices reward South Indian industries for his or her self-discipline and professionalism. “I’ve labored in nearly each regional business and everyone has a unique working type. I imagine the South-Indian industries are much less wasteful with time and assets. Everybody works with a sure self-discipline and everyone’s time is revered. I can’t converse for Hollywood, however from what I’ve gathered, it’s also a really well-structured business,” says Pandit.Singer Kumar Sanu factors to punctuality and preparedness as the actual manufacturing mannequin to emulate. “Amitabh Bachchan was identified for all the time being on time and coming ready. That’s what made shoots environment friendly—not simply the hours labored.”
Commenting on work-life steadiness, Sanu mentioned, “Work and life steadiness is absolutely essential. With Actresses particularly after they turn into moms, we have to be understanding and provides them their consolation on humanity floor. There are a lot of issues after turning into a mom and each lady faces various things. Films have been being made within the 50s and 60s when there was lack of comfort, however they labored round it. In as we speak’s time, we’ve got a lot comfort, folks needs to be extra understanding now.” Psychological well being and the parable of the tireless artist
Actor and author Karan Razdan, who’s at the moment engaged on Rajni 2.0, provides a lived expertise of artistic burnout. “Creativity truly and actually lasts for a most of 8 hours. That is true not solely on the set as an actor or director nevertheless it applies to all the opposite technicians additionally. Infact having been a author, actor and director let me inform you that even the author’s true artistic time is restricted to just some hours. Now that I’ve began once more in Rajni 2.0 (the sequel of my hit present Rajni) i really feel extraordinarily burnt out after 8-9 hours as an actor. And naturally have all the time felt it as a director too.” Having straddled a number of roles within the business, Razdan believes that shorter shifts might truly improve creative output. “If these 8 hours are devoted and centered, the outcomes could be marvellous. Finances-wise too, it gained’t affect issues an excessive amount of.”For director Mozez Singh, it boils right down to steadiness—between life and work, coronary heart and hustle. “It’s actually essential to have a work-life steadiness as a result of it’s life itself that feeds the work. And correct relaxation is the most important gasoline for productiveness.”He provides, “Actors have obligations exterior the set—younger youngsters, ageing dad and mom, emotional well being. These aren’t afterthoughts. They have to be a part of our scheduling discussions.”The concern of the unknownNonetheless, not everybody is able to soar in. Whereas many acknowledge the advantages, there’s concern that inflexible shifts might stifle spontaneity or drive up prices.Sanu believes that an 8-hour shift would negatively affect the business economically for individuals who work on hourly foundation or shift foundation, until somebody has one in every of contract then it’s constructive for them. Pandit echoes the sentiment: “Flexibility is essential. For climax scenes or complicated setups, longer days are wanted—and that needs to be okay if deliberate upfront.”A hybrid path ahead?
Practically all stakeholders appear to agree on one answer: hybrid fashions. A mixture of shorter and longer days, relying on the scene, price range, and forged necessities.“Sure, I might see that work,” Mozez Singh says. “Give extra hours to high-stakes scenes, however in any other case hold to 8-hour norms. That’s the one technique to be honest to each the artwork and the artist.”On the human aspect of the talk, Rahul Dholakia shares a telling anecdote: “On one movie, my actor requested that he work 10 hours on set and wrap by 7 or 8 pm so he could possibly be in time to see his children earlier than they slept. That’s honest — we’ve got to honor that.”However to make this all attainable, the Raees director says, the business should make investments extra time earlier than the digital camera begins rolling: “Loads of how we shoot is organized — however rather a lot could be fastened. How effectively we try this relies upon solely on one factor: planning.”Kumar Sanu provides a ultimate observe of pragmatism: “If we rotate shifts properly, it’d even create extra job alternatives. However it have to be carried out thoughtfully—with out hurting the day by day employees.”A time for reflectionThe 8-hour shift debate isn’t about hours alone. It’s about respect—respect for time, well being, household, and creative integrity. The dialog sparked by Deepika Padukone’s departure from Spirit is just not a rise up; it’s a request for reform.As Anand Pandit aptly places it: “After we work smarter, we don’t need to work longer.”In the long run, Bollywood might not be prepared for a time clock, however it’s undoubtedly prepared for a reset.
