Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha recently spoke out on the ongoing debate about fixed working hours in Bollywood.

During his recent candid chat, the 60-year-old director called last year’s controversy around Deepika Padukone “overblown” and mentioned issues like these should be handled privately between actors and filmmakers.

In a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, he stated, “If an actor wants to work six hours a day and you’re not okay with it, then don’t work with that actor. It’s as simple as that.”

Recalling his time with the late Rishi Kapoor on Mulk in 2018, he said they managed the shooting schedule well through open talks, Rishi didn’t want night shoots and even when a few were added, it was handled without any trouble.

Addressing Deepika’s reported eight-hour workday request, the acclaimed film director told the outlet that he hadn’t worked with her directly but had only heard positive feedback from people who had. “They said she’s a delightful actress to work with,” he shared.

Additionally, he pointed out that if any actor’s demands seem unreasonable, producers and directors can simply choose not to work with them. “Why create a controversy?” he asked, noting that disagreements over schedules are practical matters, not scandals.

For the unversed, the issue arose after Deepika reportedly walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, with Triptii Dimri stepping in, causing online debates about long hours and professional conduct in big films.

Professionally, Anubhav’s recently released film starring Taapsee Pannu Assi, garnered praise for the performances but made roughly ₹7 crore in its first week, much less than its ₹30 crore budget.

On the other hand, Deepika, who last appeared in Kalki 2898 AD, will next be seen in King, alongside Shah Rukh Khan and another project with superstar Allu Arjun under Atlee’s direction.