Concerns around long working hours and basic on-set facilities in the film industry continue to surface, with several actors highlighting the challenges faced by both performers and crew. Recently, the cast of the Netflix dramedy Toaster, including Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Abhishek Banerjee, and Archana Puran Singh, opened up about similar issues, drawing attention to the lack of basic amenities on film sets. (Also read: Toaster trailer out: Rajkummar Rao plays a kanjoos makhichoos in a comedy with Sanya Malhotra, Farah Khan, Archana )
Archana Puran Singh on long hours and ‘kanjoosi’ mindset
Speaking about the issue with News18, Archana Puran Singh elaborated on the growing pressure of extended work hours, explaining how shifts frequently stretch beyond their scheduled timings, sometimes crossing 12 hours and continuing even longer. She highlighted how this takes a toll, especially on crew members who are engaged in physically demanding work for long durations under challenging conditions.
“Even then, they expect us to extend our work hours to 13-14 hours and skip lunch breaks. This is a kind of kanjoosi (stinginess) only. Kanjoosi is a mentality… How can you not let the light men, who hold their equipment and stand under the sun for hours, eat? They don’t have assistants like us bringing them fruits. It’s terrible,” she said.
She also recalled how certain production houses had gained a reputation for being extremely restrictive with food, with crew members often informally referring to them based on how limited the meal portions were. According to her, such practices reflect a deeper, long-standing issue within the industry.
Sanya Malhotra, Rajkummar Rao call for better work conditions
Sanya Malhotra noted that some production houses fail to prioritise even essential breaks, including lunch, despite long and demanding schedules. Her observation underlined how basic needs are often overlooked in the rush to complete shoots.
Rajkummar Rao also questioned the lack of structured breaks during shoots. He pointed out that schedules could easily be adjusted to allow timely meals, stressing that the well-being of crew members should be taken into account rather than pushing through long hours without pause.
Abhishek Banerjee, meanwhile, suggested that these small decisions reveal a larger mindset, where even minimal cost-saving measures end up affecting people on set. He implied that such choices reflect how easily basic care and comfort can be sidelined.
The conversation around overwork gained further momentum last year when Deepika Padukone reportedly stepped away from projects like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, after her demand for an eight-hour workday was not met. She had earlier spoken about how overworking has been normalised in the industry, highlighting the need for healthier and more sustainable working conditions.
