The North News
Chandigarh, June 17
While Deepika Padukone’s reported request for an eight-hour workday on Spirit has reignited conversations about working conditions in the film industry, the makers of Prabhas’ upcoming horror-romance The Raja Saab have offered a stark contrast — revealing the relentless hours their team clocked behind the scenes.
At the teaser launch in Hyderabad, director Maruthi shared that while the actors worked standard eight-hour shifts, the crew often powered through 16 to 18-hour days to keep the production on track. Speaking to India Today, he explained: “Actors were on an eight-hour shift. I’d schedule them accordingly. But we, the crew, worked from 6 am to 10 pm without fail. That’s how we delivered this level of quality.”
Producer TG Vishwa Prasad added context to the timeline, revealing that the film took more than two and a half years to complete. “Our major schedule started post-Kalki 2898 AD, from late July through December. Maruthi worked 6 am to 11 pm for over 120 consecutive days,” he said. The climax alone runs for 40 minutes, and the film involved over 300 days of VFX work.
The Spirit Disagreement
These revelations emerge just as Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from Spirit, directed by Animal’s Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has made headlines. Initial reports claimed she had requested a capped eight-hour workday — especially relevant as she prepares for motherhood — but Vanga allegedly refused the condition. However, other reports suggest that the disagreement may have been more about profit-sharing and compensation than working hours.
The conversation deepened after Vanga shared a cryptic social media post referencing “dirty PR games,” sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes friction.
What’s Next for Prabhas and Deepika
The Raja Saab, also starring Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, and Nidhhi Agerwal, is set for theatrical release on December 5.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone has already moved on to her next major project — starring opposite Allu Arjun in Atlee’s upcoming pan-India action drama, currently titled AA22xA6.
