Bollywood star Deepika Padukone slams L&T chairman over 90-hour workweek culture remarks

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone openly criticised L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan for his remarks supporting a 90-hour workweek and suggesting employees work on Sundays. Padukone shared her shock on social media, stressing the need to prioritise mental health and rejecting the idea of overwork in corporate culture.

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has voiced her strong opposition to a controversial statement made by the chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), S.N. Subrahmanyan, who suggested that employees should work 90-hour weeks, including Sundays. This comment, made during a video that circulated on social media, sparked outrage among the public and was widely criticized for promoting an unhealthy work culture.

Subrahmanyan expressed his belief that employees should be willing to work over the weekend and questioned what they were doing at home.

The comment quickly drew attention for its apparent disregard for work-life balance and the well-being of employees.

Deepika, known for her advocacy for mental health awareness, responded to the statement with a firm objection. She shared a post on social media expressing her shock at the remarks, writing, “It is shocking to see people in such high positions make statements like this.” Her response was met with support from fans and fellow public figures, who echoed her concerns about the impact of such work expectations on mental and emotional health.

In the wake of the public backlash, L&T issued a clarification, explaining that Subrahmanyan’s comments were meant to reflect the company’s ambition to achieve extraordinary results through extraordinary efforts.

The company argued that the chairman’s statement was not intended to encourage employees to overwork but to inspire them to push beyond their limits in pursuit of success.

However, Deepika Padukone was not satisfied with the explanation, stating that it only made matters worse. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health and criticized the notion of glorifying overwork, particularly in an era where there is growing awareness of its negative effects.

The controversy surrounding Subrahmanyan’s comments has ignited a larger conversation about work-life balance, especially in the context of increasing awareness about the importance of mental health.

Critics argue that such expectations set unrealistic standards for employees and contribute to the rising levels of stress and burnout in the workforce.

As the debate continues to unfold, Deepika’s stance serves as a reminder that, while hard work is essential, it is equally important to consider the well-being of employees and to foster a healthy work environment that prioritizes both professional success and personal health.