Shwetha Menon, AMMA President recalls on fixed working hours on set.
Shwetha Menon, AMMA President recalls on fixed working hours on set.
After reports of Deepika Padukone’s potential role in ‘Spirit’ being impacted by her request for 8-hour work shifts post-motherhood, Shwetha Menon, AMMA’s president, spotlights the importance of open communication. Menon shared her experience of working amidst pregnancy, emphasizing the need for understanding from directors regarding work schedules.
When Deepika Padukone finally wasn’t a part of Prabhas starrer ‘Spirit’, several reports suggested that it was because some demands put by the actress didn’t go down well with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. It was being said that one of the demands of Deepika was 8-hour work shift, now that she’s a mother.
This led to an entire new discussion and several actors have weighed in on the issue.
And now the first woman president of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), Shwetha Menon has spoken about it. She said at the India Today event, “Most issues can be solved through dialogue, but people often avoid it. Even when she was AMMA’s first female vice-president, she would urge women to share their problems but none of them would and won’t blame them.
Everyone is worried about their careers. But slowly, will bring these issues to light.”
She further recalled the time when she was pregnant she did four films. She informed her directors that she wasn’t comfortable with early morning shoots, and they understood.
Should film industries adopt 8-hour work shifts for actors and crew?
Yes, it promotes work-life balanceNo, it may slow down production
Earlier, Deepika has spoken about having a work-life balance. She had said during a chat with Film Companion, “Somehow, in our country, including the corporate world, taking leaves or wanting time for yourself carries a connotation of being unprofessional, not hardworking or driven enough. And I disagree. You can be all of those things and still make time for yourself. How are you going to replenish and put energy back into your work if you don’t?”
She added, “Streamlining the hours that we work, especially for the crew. There is this sense that if you make people work extra and continuously, you get it done faster. My thinking is the exact opposite, people need to be given enough downtime and rest so that they come back with better energy. That’ll help you work faster and better the quality of your work too.
News Edit KV Raman
