Should the Industry Adopt an 8-Hour Shift Schedule? Panchayat Cast Weighs In

Panchayat season 4 releases on June 24 on Amazon Prime

Cast of Panchayat share their views on the 8-hour shift debate

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

With Panchayat Season 4 premiering on June 24 on Amazon Prime Video, the series returns with its signature charm, humour, and emotional depth. Season 4 starring Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Sunita Rajwar, the series is written by Chandan Kumar and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Akshat Vijaywargiya.

Over the years, Panchayat has quietly but powerfully become one of India’s most loved series — celebrated for its grounded storytelling, heartfelt characters, and slice-of-rural-life portrayal.

The Quint caught up with the cast and crew to talk about the ongoing 8-hour work shift debate in the industry, the most challenging characters to write, if the actors resonate with their roles, and more.

The 8-hour shift debate is back in the spotlight after reports surfaced that actor Deepika Padukone exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit due to the director’s refusal to agree to an 8-hour workday.

When we asked the cast and crew whether an 8-hour shift should be a standard in the industry, Neena Gupta responded,

If I say I’ll only work for 8 hours and it doesn’t work for the producer, he’ll just cast someone else.

Neena Gupta, Actor

She pointed out that many actors do restrict their working hours, and some avoid working on Sundays. She added, "there was an actor on a TV serial who only came in the evenings to shoot his close-ups. No one questioned it—because he was a sellable actor, and they needed him."

I refuse 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM shifts.

Neena Gupta, Actor

Actor Faizal Malik feels that the need is to fix the system first, "when people come from out to shoot in India, they shoot for 8 hours."

Director Akshat Vijaywargiya points out that people working behind the camera often work far beyond the standard 8-hour or 12-hour shifts.

People who are behind the camera work for 14-hours.

Akshat Vijaywargiya, Director

Panchayat actor Sunita Rajwar said that while some actors choose not to work on Saturday or Sundays,t his option is not available to everyone, "it's difficult for the whole unit to work just for 8 hours."

A star can work 8-hour shifts through his career, but a character actor doesn't have that option.

Sunita Rajwar, Actor

Watch the video for more.