Reflecting on his own experience, the ‘Homebound’ actor admitted that he has worked on sets where “the protocol of time” was pushed to the limit.
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The debate over long working hours in Bollywood refuses to die down and now, actor Ishaan Khatter has added his voice to the growing conversation.
It all began when reports surfaced that Deepika Padukone had walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film ‘Spirit’. This happened after her allegedly insisting on an eight-hour workday. The story sent shockwaves through the industry sparking fresh discussions about how much is “too much” when it comes to film shoots in India.
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And, speaking at a recent event Ishaan didn’t shy away from addressing the issue. Reflecting on his own experience, the ‘Homebound’ actor admitted that he has worked on sets where “the protocol of time” was pushed to the limit.
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“I’ve been on sets where sometimes the protocol of time has been abused,” Ishaan said candidly. “But that’s an important conversation. I’m an actor, and I can work for long hours, but filmmakers should be considerate. Acting is a work of passion, and sometimes we see actors go beyond their shift to make that passion real. But that shouldn’t be taken for granted.”
Before Ishaan, filmmaker Hansal Mehta had also voiced his concerns in a heartfelt social media post. “Because it’s profitable,” Mehta wrote, “I truly believe that if we cared about well-being, ours and especially those who hold up the base of this pyramid, we’d not only work better but live better. The irony is that quality, efficiency, and even profit would follow. But first, we need to stop scoffing at the simple idea of rest.”
Actors like Neha Dhupia, Ajay Devgn, and Rani Mukerji have also chimed in, each pointing to the same underlying issue: the normalisation of exhaustion in the name of dedication.
For Ishaan, the timing of this conversation couldn’t be more appropriate. His latest film ‘Homebound’ has been receiving glowing reviews everywhere and is now India’s official entry for the Oscars 2026. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film tells the story of two childhood friends, Shoaib (played by Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa) who dream of becoming police officers to escape the prejudice that shapes their lives.
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