Deepika Padukone, who has been on the forefront of conversations round truthful working hours and equal pay in Bollywood, says she has now reached a section in her profession the place box-office milestones now not outline her selections. After exiting two main tasks reverse Baahubali star Prabhas, the actor shared that even Rs 500-crore spectacles now not impress her.In her interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Deepika mentioned, “At this stage, it’s not about that anymore. It’s not in regards to the Rs 100-crore movies, and even the Rs 500–Rs 600 crore ones.”
Why Deepika is selecting objective over paycheques
Deepika defined that she is now extra invested in nurturing new artistic voices than chasing industrial blockbusters.“What excites me is empowering different expertise. My staff and I at the moment are centered on that—enabling storytelling and supporting different artistic minds, writers, administrators, and even new producers. That’s what feels significant to me now,” she mentioned.The actress, who has backed Chhapaak and 83 via KA Productions, added that she now selects tasks based mostly on honesty and intuition slightly than monetary scale.“Something that doesn’t really feel true to me doesn’t minimize it. Generally folks supply some huge cash and assume that’s sufficient, however it isn’t. And the reverse can be true—some issues is probably not commercially large, however I imagine within the folks or the message, and I’ll stand by it,” she shared.Deepika additional mirrored on her progress, “Was I all the time this clear? Possibly not. However I’ve reached that readability now. Do I generally look again and assume, ‘What was I pondering?’ After all. That’s a part of studying. Possibly 10 years from now, I’ll query a few of right now’s selections. However proper now, they really feel trustworthy.”
Calling out the tradition of burnout
One of many highest-paid actresses within the nation, Deepika additionally addressed the trade’s unhealthy work tradition and the glorification of lengthy, punishing schedules.She mentioned, “We’ve normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for dedication. Eight hours of labor a day is sufficient for the human physique and thoughts. Solely if you’re wholesome are you able to give your greatest. Bringing a burnt-out particular person again into the system helps nobody.”Her statements come months after she exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD. Stories had claimed that equal pay and an eight-hour shift have been key causes behind her choice to step away.Amid shifting priorities and a extra aware strategy to work, Deepika is now collaborating as soon as once more with Shah Rukh Khan on his upcoming movie King, marking one other high-profile mission of their long-running skilled partnership.