'Made it worse': Deepika Padukone criticizes L&T chairman’s 90-hour workweek remarks

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has once again spoken out against remarks made by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who advocated for employees to work 90-hour weeks and on Sundays. Deepika, known for her mental health advocacy, previously criticized the comments as "shocking" and has now reacted to L&T’s defense of their chairman.

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In a statement responding to the backlash, L&T emphasized its commitment to nation-building, describing the chairman’s comments as reflective of a larger ambition for India’s progress. The company stated, “This is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation.”

Reacting to this, Deepika took to social media, posting a screenshot of the statement with the caption, “And they just made it worse...” Earlier, she had criticized Subrahmanyan’s remarks, particularly his controversial question, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”

The comments, along with a similar recent statement from Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy advocating 70-hour workweeks, have reignited debates about work-life balance in corporate India. Critics argue that such expectations disregard employee well-being and mental health, issues Deepika continues to champion publicly.