Did Aditya Dhar Indirectly Comment on Deepika Padukone’s 8-Hour Shift Demand? Dhurandhar Director Reveals 16–18 Hour Shoot Days as Ranveer Singh Looks On

The trailer launch of Ranveer Singh’s upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar has suddenly become the center of a new discussion in the film industry. Not because of the explosive visuals or the powerful cast, but because of one statement made by director Aditya Dhar. During the event, Dhar revealed that his entire team worked 16 to 18 hours every day for nearly one and a half years, a comment that many believe may be an indirect response to Deepika Padukone’s ongoing push for 8-hour work shifts in Bollywood.

Deepika, who is married to Ranveer Singh, has been strongly advocating for standardised working hours for actors and technicians. She even walked out of two major pan-India projects: Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD sequel because the productions did not agree to her 8-hour shift policy. With this background, Dhar’s statement is being seen as more than just appreciation for his crew.

Aditya Dhar Talks About the Dhurandhar Journey

Speaking at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, Dhar opened up about the emotional and professional struggle behind Dhurandhar. He revealed that he hadn’t directed a film for almost five years after Uri: The Surgical Strike, and Dhurandhar became the project that reignited his passion.

Dhar said that when he began writing the film, he slowly gathered a team of people who were “hungry to prove themselves.” According to him, the cast and crew approached every scene and every schedule with the mindset of creating something unforgettable.

He highlighted that every person involved from actors to assistant directors, from department heads to spot boys- treated the film like a mission. They decided that this film deserved everything they had, and the spirit of the team remained strong through the entire process.

What shocked many was his revelation that the entire Dhurandhar unit continued working 16–18 hours daily for 1.5 years. And according to Dhar, not a single person complained or questioned the workload.

In an era where conversations about work-life balance, mental health, and sustainable working environments are growing louder, this line stood out, especially because of Deepika Padukone’s recent public stance on the same issue.

Ranveer Singh Praises Aditya Dhar Vision

Ranveer Singh, who plays the lead in Dhurandhar, also opened up about the intense journey behind the film. He described Dhar as a filmmaker with “pure intent” and said that the team followed him because of the clarity of his vision.

Ranveer explained that both he and Dhar were going through major life changes during the making of Dhurandhar, Dhar became a father to a baby boy and Ranveer welcomed his daughter. Despite their personal responsibilities, both of them gave everything they had to the film and pushed through physically and emotionally demanding schedules.

According to Ranveer, the entire team “worked out of their skin” to achieve what Dhar had imagined. The actor said that Dhar's passion was infectious and that the energy he brought to the set motivated everyone around him.

The Film, the Team, and the Buzz

Dhurandhar marks Aditya Dhar’s return to direction after the massive success of Uri, which won multiple National Awards. With a heavyweight cast that includes Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and R Madhavan, the film promises to be a major theatrical event.

The trailer launch has already created huge buzz, not only for the scale of the film but also because of Dhar’s comments, which have triggered discussion about Bollywood’s work culture.

Fans are now curious about two things:

• How intense and grand Dhurandhar will be on the big screen, given the massive effort put in by the team.
• Whether Dhar’s comment was a subtle reaction to Deepika Padukone’s stand, especially since it was made in front of her husband, Ranveer Singh.

With the film set for a worldwide release on December 5, Dhurandhar is entering the final phase of promotions, and all eyes are on how this conversation around working hours will continue to unfold.

Stay tuned with CineInfinity for more such updates.