“If you want to work in South, learn our work culture first,” says Venky Atluri on Deepika Padukone controversy
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“If you want to work in South, learn our work culture first,” says Venky Atluri on Deepika Padukone controversy
During a recent interview Venky Atluri said every film industry has its own way of working.
- Venky Atluri: Adapt to local film industry work culture.
- Telugu films often have 11-12 hour shooting days.
- Deepika Padukone’s exits sparked work hour debate.
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Director Venky Atluri has spoken about the ongoing discussion on working hours in the film industry. His comments come after actress Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from two major films because of differences over shooting schedules. The topic has created a big debate among filmmakers, actors and fans across India.
During a recent interview Venky Atluri said every film industry has its own way of working. He said that actors and technicians who join a different industry should first understand its working style. He believes respecting the existing work culture is important for smooth filmmaking.
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The director explained that Telugu films often have long shooting days. He said film shoots usually continue for around 11 to 12 hours depending on the schedule and production needs. Because of this, artists from other industries should be prepared to adjust when they work in Telugu cinema.
Venky also shared an experience from one of his earlier film shoots with actress Raveena Tandon. The team was filming in Ooty during very cold weather. On the final day they had two choices. They could either complete the remaining scenes that day by working longer hours or leave the shoot unfinished and try to recreate the same location later. Since matching the weather and natural lighting would have been difficult, the team decided to finish the work on the same day.
He added that Raveena understood the situation and supported the team’s decision.
The filmmaker said that the same respect should be shown in every industry.
If he gets an opportunity to direct a Hindi film, he would first learn about the working style there and follow those rules instead of expecting others to change for him. He feels every filmmaker and actor should adapt to the place where they are working.
The discussion began after reports claimed Deepika Padukone preferred shorter working hours which reportedly led to her exit from Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.
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The reports sparked different opinions about work-life balance and production schedules in Indian cinema.
Meanwhile Venky Atluri is preparing for the release of Vishwanath and Sons, starring Suriya, Raveena Tandon and Mamitha Baiju. The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on August 14. He has also confirmed that a sequel to Lucky Baskhar is planned, although it will take a few more years before production begins.
Bhawana Tanmayi is a Hyderabad-based freelance entertainment journalist. Views expressed are personal.
first published: Jul 31, 2026 12:22 pm
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