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After months of speculation surrounding her controversial exits from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD sequel, Deepika Padukone has finally addressed the chatter. The actress, who was reported to have demanded fixed 8-hour shifts and higher pay, opened up about the gender double standards in the film industry — without taking any names.

Amid the ongoing discussions, Deepika was spotted at the Mumbai airport, returning to the city ahead of the Karwa Chauth celebrations.

Dressed in a loose white shirt and matching pants, she completed her look with black shades and her signature smile. The actress waved at the paparazzi before heading to her car, exuding calm confidence despite the recent controversy.

Deepika on gender bias and silent battlesSpeaking at an event in Madhya Pradesh to mark 10 years of her foundation, Live Love Laugh, Deepika was asked whether she had ever paid a price for standing up for what she believes in.

The actress replied candidly, “I have done this on many levels. Even as far as pay is concerned, I’ve had to deal with… I don’t even know what to call it. But I’m someone who always fought my battles silently. And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public — which is not the way I know or how I’ve been brought up. But yes, fighting my battles silently and in a dignified way is the only way I know.”

Her words resonated deeply, especially as conversations around women’s work conditions and equal pay continue to gain momentum in Bollywood.

Addresses the ‘8-hour shift’ controversyIn an interview with CNBC TV18, Deepika responded directly to reports claiming she had asked for fixed 8-hour working shifts, which allegedly led to her being replaced in Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD 2.

“By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as pushy or whatever, then so be it,” she said. “But it is no secret that a lot of superstars — male superstars — in the Indian film industry have been working for 8 hours for years, and it’s never made headlines!”

She further added, “I don’t want to take names and make this a whole thing, but it’s very commonly known that a lot of male actors work 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday. They don’t work on weekends.”

Her current projects and professional frontWeeks after her exit from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, Deepika shared an emotional post about reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan for their upcoming film King . This marks her sixth collaboration with the superstar after Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan, and Jawan.

In her note, she wrote, “The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success. I couldn’t agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I’ve made since.”

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