Preity Zinta weighs in on Bollywood work-hour debate, reveals doing 18-hour shifts

Actor Preity Zinta has weighed in on Bollywood’s continuing debate over working hours, revealing that she voluntarily worked shifts stretching up to 18 hours while shooting for her upcoming film Vibe so she could finish her schedule early and return to her children in the US. Speaking at the trailer launch of Vibe in Mumbai, Preity said there could not be a one-size-fits-all approach to working hours as actors have different circumstances and priorities.

“Each to his own,” she said while addressing the debate. Explaining her decision to work extended hours, the actor said she wanted to complete her professional commitments during her limited stay in India and return to her family as soon as possible. “Every day we had very long shoots. So, each to his own and of course, the reason I was working 18 hours is that I wanted to finish my work as soon as I could and go back to America to be with my kids,” Preity said.

‘It was a tough shoot’

The 50-year-old actor said she had come to India for only around 30 to 40 days and devoted virtually her entire stay to shooting the film. Preity said she would head to the shoot every day and return afterwards without taking time out for social engagements. She acknowledged that the schedule was demanding but stressed that she was comfortable with it because completing the film quickly was her priority.

She also pointed out that the challenges of filmmaking went beyond the number of hours spent on set. Vibe involved considerable action, while unpredictable factors such as rain and illness also complicated the schedule. Preity said performing the action sequences was particularly demanding and revealed that she was kicked, punched and hit on occasions while filming, though not intentionally. She credited the film’s action team for helping her pull off the sequences.

Her comments come amid a wider discussion in the Hindi film industry over working conditions and the length of shooting schedules. The debate gained prominence after Deepika Padukone called for eight-hour working days and questioned the industry’s tendency to equate long hours with commitment.

Returns in action avatar

Vibe, a spy action-comedy, is written and directed by Kunal Kemmu, who also stars in the film. Preity plays a character called Madam H, marking a departure from many of the roles associated with her earlier career. Kemmu said he considered Preity for the part because audiences had rarely seen her perform action and he felt that made her casting unexpected.

The film also stars Sparsh Shrivastava, Vanshika Dhir, Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav. Produced by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under Drongo Films and backed by Amazon MGM Studios, Vibe is scheduled to hit theatres on September 18. The film follows Preity’s recent return to acting with Batwara 1947, after she had largely stayed away from films for several years.