The conversation about long working hours and lack of basic equipment on film sets refuses to die down, and more actors share their first-hand experiences on the ground. The cast of Toaster—Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Abhishek Banerjee and Archana Puran Singh—recently weighed in, shedding light on how even basic necessities are sometimes overlooked on set.
“Teams go way beyond what was planned”
Archana Puran Singh he noted that although shoots are scheduled for a certain duration, they are rarely harvested on time. According to him, the working hours flow more than 12 hours and can be extended up to 13-14 hours, often without adequate breaks.“However, they expect us to extend our working hours to 13-14 hours and skip lunch breaks. It’s only a kind of Kanjoosi. It’s a Kanjoosi mentality… How can you not let the smart men eat, who hold their equipment and stay under the sun for hours? They don’t have assistants like us who bring them fruits.” It’s awesome,” he told News18.He adds that within the industry, some production houses have gained a reputation for being particularly restrictive with food, with crew members informally citing them as a weakness, something he believes reflects a deeper, long-standing mindset.
“Even basic breaks become negotiable”
Sanya Malhotra highlighted how, in many cases, essential breaks like lunch are not even considered a priority. His observation underscored how the need to stay on schedule often comes at the cost of basic comfort.Rajkummar Rao echoed a similar sentiment, questioning why structured breaks can’t be built into filming schedules. He suggested that better planning could easily ensure timely meals without compromising productivity.Abhishek Banerjee, on the other hand, framed it as a larger issue of intent, noting that small decisions to cut costs can have a disproportionate impact on the people working behind the scenes.
8 hour turn interview back in focus
The debate about working hours gained momentum already last year Deepika Padukone He reportedly scrapped projects like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD when his demand for an eight-hour workday was not met.He has previously spoken about how overwork has been normalized in the industry, calling for more sustainable and humane working conditions.
