Aditya Sarpotdar, director of ‘Thamma’, supports 12-hour shifts for actors, emphasizing fairness and health. He respects Deepika Padukone’s 8-hour demand but highlights Rashmika Mandanna’s dedication working longer without complaints. ‘Thamma’ stars Ayushmann Khurrana as a journalist turned vampire fighting evil, blending horror and comedy.
Aditya Sarpotdar, the director of ‘Thamma’, is currently basking in the success of his latest film starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. With actors increasingly requesting fixed working hours, Aditya weighs in on how this trend impacts his creative process. In an interview, he opened up about his take on the ongoing conversation.Importance of clear working hoursTalking to News18, Sarpotdar said that it’s essential to have clarity on appropriate working hours. He mentioned that many times, it is taken for granted that everyone will work 24 hours, which takes a toll both physically and mentally. He feels that a 12-hour shift is very understandable and practical when shooting, and doing anything beyond that is not right. He has seen situations where people don’t even get a chance to go home between schedules, and considers it a very unfair practice.Perspective on Deepika Padukone’s demandResponding to Deepika Padukone’s request for fixed working hours, Sarpotdar highlighted the importance of understanding the reasoning behind such demands. He said that actors need to maintain a specific appearance on camera, and the motivation for her request should be examined. He added, “I think, as an actor, you have to look a certain way on camera. And the demand that is coming, we need to understand its background. Deepika started the conversation, so you have to understand where it is coming from and why she is demanding 8 hours — there is no sense in giving a generic statement to it.” He also stressed that it’s a personal choice and part of a director’s duty to ensure actors’ comfort. As a personal example, Aditya shared, “When Paresh (Rawal) ji came on board, he was battling health issues. There was a point when he said he wouldn’t be able to do the film as doctors had advised him to take rest. So we said, ‘Sir, hum kam time mein aapka kaam khatam karenge.’ It is our responsibility to take care of him.”Rashmika Mandanna’s long hours without complaintsSarpotdar also mentioned that, unlike the demand for an 8-hour workday, Rashmika puts in longer hours without ever complaining. “As for Rashmika, she works for 12 hours — never once has she said that she is tired. Maybe because she is at that point in life where she can pull it off, but it shouldn’t be one rule applied to all. I do feel that if an actor and a director come on the same page, only then should they work together,” he shared.About the film ‘Thamma’‘Thamma’ is a romantic comedy horror film directed by Aditya Sarpotdar. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok, a journalist saved by the vampire Tadaka (Rashmika Mandanna) in a forest. Alok turns into a vampiric creature and must fight ancient evil to save humanity, with support from various characters including Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Yakshasan.
