The controversy surrounding Deepika Padukone's alleged departure from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit over her request for an 8-hour shift sparked a fierce discussion in the film community about work-life balance. The debate has now been addressed by filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who claims that the problem has been overexaggerated.

RGV on the conflict between Sandeep and Deepika over their spirit

It was previously stated that Deepika is in negotiations to play alongside Prabhas in Spirit, the forthcoming action picture helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. According to reports, she quit the project earlier this year, with several sources saying that she had asked for an eight-hour workday, a portion of the film's earnings, and that she not have to speak in Telugu—requests that the filmmaker apparently disagreed with.

The controversy centered around a potential eight-hour change for actors. Ram Gopal Varma discussed the debate and the call for set shift hours in an interview with the Hindustan Times.

"I honestly believe that having set shift schedules for actors is a deal between two individuals. Everyone has the right to express themselves freely, and everyone has the right to disagree, according to RGV, whose thriller Saaree was recently released on Lionsgate Play.

“In my opinion, the entire relationship between Deepika and Sandeep was highly exaggerated,” the filmmaker adds. Because the actor may say I want to work for only one hour while I can say I want to work for 23 hours. It's up to them to decide. However, how can one person compel another to do anything? And people may choose to collaborate or not with one another. However, the media has overhyped the situation.

Available on demand for specific shift times

Due to the unpredictable nature of filmmaking, which is dependent on a variety of external variables, the filmmaker, who is well known for producing films like Satya, Shool, Bhoot, and Killing Veerappan, thinks it is impractical to have set shift hours for actors.

"This is due to the fact that it is influenced by so many variables. The director can require a specific light. The site may not be available, or he may want a combination of other actors. He clarifies his thinking, saying, "Too many things may factor in."

Regarding his upcoming OTT venture

Saaree, which was written and presented by Ram Gopal Varma and directed by Giri Krishna Kamal, made its debut on Lionsgate Play on June 27. Satya Yadu's character, Kittu, is a photographer in the movie who falls in love with a woman, played by Aaradhya Devi, after seeing her in a saree, an image that captivates him.

Regarding the reaction to the movie, RGV states, "The picture tackles the issue of how social media may have an impact. How individuals connect with one another without knowing any backgrounds, and they get into relationships... And what risks it may bring."

Is the audience for OTT different from those who go to the movies?

"The two are distinct mediums. We have a tendency to generalize the audience. The theater is where certain individuals prefer to view certain movies, while others prefer to do so at home. Since each platform and channel has its own audience, it is impossible to make generalizations, he concludes.

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