Kajal Aggarwal Supports Fixed Shift At Shoots But Says Actors Have To Be ‘Flexible’ Because…

The debate around working hours, fair compensation and workplace conditions in the film industry has been a talking point even since following Deepika Padukone exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film  last year. Reports surrounding the actress’s alleged demands, including fixed work hours and profit-sharing, have become topics that are being widely discussed. Amid the ongoing discussion, actor Kajal Aggarwal has shared her perspective on fixed shifts, revealing that while she strongly supports structured work schedules, filmmaking often requires a degree of flexibility due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

Speaking to Variety India, revealed how her priorities have changed since becoming a mother. The actress admitted that managing work-life balance has become increasingly important and that she now consciously structures her schedule to ensure she spends quality time with her family. “My priorities have shifted, and it has become more challenging. I want to rush home at a specific hour,” Kajal said.

The actress revealed that she actively includes work-hour limitations in her contracts and prefers working only one shift a day. “I ensure that I write that down in my contract. I do one shift a day, which is approximately nine hours,” she explained. However, despite advocating for defined schedules, Kajal acknowledged that filmmaking is an unpredictable profession where delays and unexpected challenges can arise. “In our industry, sometimes there are extraneous factors that are out of anyone’s control, and you have to be flexible,” she added.

During the same interaction, Kajal also spoke about the differences she has experienced between the South film industry and Bollywood. The actress, who began her career in South cinema and continues to work extensively there, admitted she feels a stronger sense of comfort in that ecosystem. “We don’t work beyond nine hours. I am a little more biased toward the South industry because that is where I started my career, and there is a certain comfort level that I don’t enjoy in Bollywood,” she said. Kajal also praised the professionalism she has experienced in the South film industry and added women are respected a lot.

The fixed hours debate started due to Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. According to reports, the disagreement allegedly stemmed from multiple contractual demands. Deepika was reportedly seeking a remuneration of Rs 20-25 crore, a 10 percent share of the film’s profits and a strict eight-hour work schedule.

While neither side publicly detailed the exact reasons behind the breakdown of negotiations, reports suggested that differences over professional expectations and working conditions played a significant role. The controversy escalated further after Deepika’s departure from the project. Soon after, Sandeep Reddy Vanga shared a cryptic social media post that many interpreted as being directed at the actress. Without naming anyone, the filmmaker accused an unnamed actor of breaking trust, leaking information to the media and engaging in what he described as “dirty PR games” against her replacement, Triptii Dimri.