Supriya Pathak rallies behind 'Ram-Leela' co-star Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand; opens up on pay disparity in Bollywood

Veteran actor Supriya Pathak has voiced support for her former co-star Deepika Padukone, and her call for an eight-hour shift in the film industry. After Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday, Spuriya, in her latest chat, was asked to share her thoughts on the debate.

Supriya on need for 8-hour shifts

Sharing her perspective on the evolving demands of the acting profession, she chose instead to focus on giving actors due time to prep for their roles. "Acting is such a craft that if I don’t work on myself, what story will I present to the audience?" she asked in an interview with Bollywood Bubble. "As an actor, I am the one facing the audience. And when you face an audience, you need to be prepared. If you don’t give me the time to prepare myself, how will I face them? So I think it’s very important that actors, whether male or female, are given the time to prepare."




Pathak also highlighted the multiple personal and professional responsibilities women often juggle with their careers. Sharing a study on how women's brains are wired differently from men, she said, "I feel our brains are thinking about twenty things at the same time, while a man’s brain often focuses on one thing. Their challenges are different, ours are different, which is why we need balance.”

She concluded, "I believe women are empowered within themselves. Sometimes we just don’t ignite that power. But if we get even a small spark, we can become a very powerful firecracker."


Supriya on pay disparity in Bollywood

During the conversation, Pathak also addressed the issue of pay disparity. While noting that this subject extends far beyond Bollywood and the Indian film industry, she said, "I don’t know much about what others are paid. But I do believe this is not just a problem in our industry. It’s a global issue. Even today, many women are fighting against it."

"Pay disparity is part of the larger conversation around women’s empowerment. Across the world, in almost every profession, even if a woman is equally capable, or sometimes better, she can still face unequal pay simply because she is a woman. That struggle is still ongoing, and achieving true equality will take time."


Deepika exits films over shift debate

Deepika had the entire film industry split over her call for an 8-hour shift, besides other demands, while working on her new films. The actress, who welcomed her daughter Dua in 2024, shared that since becoming a mother, her priorities have shifted. She made waves when she stepped down of two big ticket films, including 'Kalki 2898AD' and 'Spirit'.

She will, however, be seen in the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan film 'King' and the Atlee sci-fi flick tentatively titled, 'AA22xA6'.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”