The topic of long working hours in Bollywood has been under discussion for a while now. Preity Zinta joined the conversation on Wednesday, offering her perspective on tough shoot schedules. At the trailer launch of ‘Vibe’, starring Kunal Kemmu, she revealed that she has also worked 18-hour days in the past, though her motivation for doing so was quite different.

Preity Zinta on why she worked 18-hour days

Preity explained that her lengthy work hours were driven by a desire to wrap up her professional commitments quickly and get back to the US to be with her children. “Each to its own. Of course, I was working for 18 hours because I wanted to finish my work as soon as I can and go back to America to be with my kids. My focus was, ‘I will come, I will finish it, bas mera kaam jaldi khatam kardo’. That was my reason,” she said, admitting that the pace of work was “tough.“

What sparked the work-hours debate: Deepika Padukone‘s exit from ‘Spirit’

For those unaware, the debate around work-life balance in Bollywood gained traction after Deepika Padukone exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga‘s Prabhas-starrer ‘Spirit’ last year. According to reports, her demands, including an eight-hour workday, a substantial fee, and a stake in the film’s profits, reportedly didn’t sit well with Vanga. As a new mother, Deepika is said to be looking to cut down on her working hours in order to better balance her professional and personal life.

Deepika Padukone’s earlier take on fighting her battles silently

In an earlier conversation with CNBC-TV18, Deepika had weighed in on the debate over working conditions, saying, “I have done this at many levels; this is not new to me. I think, even as far as pay is concerned, I have had to deal with whatever comes with it. I don’t even know what to call it, but I am someone who has always fought my battles silently. And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public, which is not the way I know and not the way I’ve been brought up. But yes, to fight my battles silently and in a dignified way is the way I know.”

About ‘Vibe’

‘Vibe’ centres on two close friends whose ordinary lives are upended, thrusting them into a fast-paced situation that puts both their friendship and survival instincts to the test. Kunal Kemmu has written and directed the film, and also plays a role in it alongside Preity Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava and debutant Vanshika Dhir. Produced by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under Drongo Films, the Amazon MGM Studios film is set to hit theatres on September 18.