Amid ongoing discussions in the film industry about work-life balance, actor Genelia Deshmukh’s comments are now gaining traction. In an interview with Zoom, she opened up about how she handles long working hours.

While speaking during the interview, Genelia said that "many times I have worked for 10 hours a day, and sometimes even more. But I believe that these are all part of cinema.”

She further added, "Working 10 hours a day is tough, but it’s not impossible. I often work 10 hours a day. On some days, the director may request to extend it till 11 or 12 hours. I think that’s fair. But we should also have to be given time to adjust accordingly. If we are required to work longer hours for one or two days, it has to be done as part of a mutual understanding."

Genelia’s comments came in the wake of reports that actor Deepika Padukone had exited the film Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. It was reported that Deepika’s demand to limit her working shift to 8 hours a day was denied by the director, which resulted in her withdrawal from the project.

Several prominent figures, including Mani Ratnam, Ajay Devgn, and Neha Dhupia, publicly supported Deepika’s stance, triggering widespread debate in the industry. Following this, actor Tripti Dimri was cast as Deepika’s replacement.

Meanwhile, Deepika has reportedly joined a new Telugu project, teaming up with director Atlee and actor Allu Arjun.