India, Nov. 16 -- Deepika Padukone sparked a debate around an eight-hour shift for actors in the industry after her reported exit from Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD Part 2. Now, in an interview, she spoke about why an eight-hour shift is ideal and urged greater support for new mothers in the workplace. When asked if motherhood had changed her in any way, Deepika said, "One hundred per cent. Every cliche is true. When mothers say, 'You'll understand when you become one,' it's true. I have so much more respect for my mother now. You can plan how you think you'll navigate work and motherhood, but the reality is very different. I feel strongly about how new mothers need to be supported when they return to work. That's something I want to focus on." She further explained to Harper's Bazaar India why an eight-hour work shift is ideal for actors, saying, "We've normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you're healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one. In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies. We should normalise bringing children to work." Deepika welcomed her first child, Dua Padukone Singh, in September 2024. In May, she reportedly exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit. Soon after her exit, reports suggested that the actor had demanded a share in profits and an eight-hour shift, which allegedly did not sit well with the director. Sandeep later replaced her with Triptii Dimri opposite Prabhas. HTC...