The much-awaited trailer of Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ was released yesterday, November 18 and fans could not keep calm. The 4 minute-seven second trailer has impressed everyone, and netizens can’t wait for the release of the multi-starrer. While everyone is talking about the trailer, a statement by director Aditya Dhar, from the trailer launch event, has caught everyone’s attention. During the launch, Dhar proudly revealed that his team worked 16 to 18-hour shifts for nearly one and a half years without any complaints. While many netizens think this is a subtle take on Deepika Padukone, the question remains if anyone should be working that long hours?
The trailer of Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar' trailer was launched at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai on Tuesday morning. Talking about making the film, Aditya Dhar said at the event, “When we started this journey, there was a gap of five years since I last made a film. We slowly got hold of people who wanted to prove themselves. Every actor, every HoD gave their all to the film. It is extraordinary how everyone put their heart and soul into it, which doesn't happen very often. A lot of times, HoDs get into a project because the money is good or it is prestigious.”
Image: IG/adityadharfilms
The filmmaker added that the cast and crew worked overtime, “This was a project of absolute, pure intent of actors, HoDs, assistants, to even the spot boys. They all gave their sweat and blood for the film. Everyone worked 16 to 18 hours continuously for one and a half years, and not even once did anyone complain. Everyone has given their 100%, and that's how the film happened."
Reacting to Aditya’s statement, many netizens pointed out that this might be a subtle dig at Deepika Padukone. One netizen wrote, "Shots fired at Ranveer's wife," while another commented, "Dedication and slavery are two different things."
In a previous interview with CNBC 18, Deepika had said that she is not okay with overworking. She’s highlighted the emotional, mental and physical strain that actors and technicians face—as well as the cultural normalisation of overworking in cinema.
In a recent chat with Harper's Bazaar, she spoke about how overworking is normalised in India. "We've normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you're healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one."
Deepika practices what she preaches. In the same interview, she had mentioned, "In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies. We should normalise bringing children to work," she said.
So when Aditya Dhar talked about his team operating on marathon shifts for over a year, the internet instantly drew parallels. Was this an innocent comment about dedication and hard work? Or did it quietly contradict Deepika’s call for healthier boundaries?
So the real question isn’t whether Dhar intended a jibe—it’s whether the culture of celebrating extreme work hours still has a place in today’s world. As the debate unfolds, one thing is clear: the Indian film industry is long overdue for a rethink.
