After Deepika Padukone, Keerthy Suresh Explains Why 8-Hour Work Days Are Important For Indian Films

The discussion surrounding standard work shifts has intensified recently, following reports of actors like Deepika Padukone exiting projects like Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Spirit' and Nag Ashwin's 'Kalki 2898 AD' sequel due to long working hours.

Adding her voice to the conversation, actor Keerthy Suresh has weighed in on the issue of work shifts, stating that even within an ideal 8-hour workday, an actor can be significantly sleep-deprived. While promoting her upcoming film, Revolver Rita, in Hyderabad, she noted that even when working limited hours, an actor might only manage six hours of sleep.

Keerthy Suresh’s Take on the 8-hour Workday

During the press conference, Keerthy recounted having worked diverse shifts throughout her career, sometimes extending from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. While shooting for Mahanati, she was simultaneously working on five other films. However, she stressed that an 8-hour shift would be ideal for health reasons.

Describing a typical day for an actor, she detailed the rushed schedule: "For a 9 a.m. shift, if I have to be there by 7:30 a.m., I have to start from home at 6:30 a.m. and wake up by 5:30 a.m. And when you pack up by 6-6:30 p.m., you leave by 7 p.m. to go back and change."

She continued, noting that by the time an actor reaches home, it's 8:15 p.m. "We change and go to work out by 8:30 p.m., and by the time you're done, it's 10 p.m. You shower, have dinner, and it's already 11 p.m. Now, I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. after sleeping at 11:30 p.m."

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Why an 8-Hour Workday is Essential for Film Crews

Keerthy then contrasted regional industry standards, pointing out that the Malayalam and Hindi film industries often require longer hours for both actors and technicians.

"We say 8 hours of sleep is good, but we hardly get to sleep for 6 hours. And this is in an ideal 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift. Imagine us shooting for more hours, imagine the technicians reaching the sets before and packing up after us," she stated.

She explained the difference: "In Tamil and Telugu, we usually have a standard of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but in Malayalam and Hindi, they work for 12 hours. In Malayalam, they work without breaks in continuous schedules, and it’s difficult. They sleep 3-4 hours, and lightmen in Kerala sleep 2-3 hours. However, sleep is just as important as food or exercise."

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Previous Industry Comments

Previously, Rashmika Mandanna also commented on this topic while promoting her film Girlfriend, stating that while she has also worked long hours, it is best for everyone’s health to maintain proper work shifts.

Keerthy Suresh’s Work Front

On Keerthy’s work front, the actress is gearing up for the release of her film, Revolver Rita (originally mentioned as Revolver Rani in the source text, but Revolver Rita is the likely correct title based on the context of the interview). The movie is directed by J.K. Chandra and also features Radikaa Sarathkumar, Redin Kingsley, Mime Gopi, Sendrayan, and Super Subbarayan in pivotal roles. Revolver Rita is slated to be released in theatres on November 28, 2025.

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