‘I don’t have an entourage’: Smriti Irani says television can’t afford such ‘tantrums’; weighs in on the 8-hour shift demand

Smriti Irani revealed that she doesn’t have an entourage and also weighed in on the ongoing debate over the eight-hour work shift demand in the entertainment industry.

By: Entertainment Desk

Mumbai | October 16, 2025 02:38 PM IST

3 min read

Smriti Irani is currently filming for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2.

Smriti Irani weighs in on the debate over the 8-hour work shift.

After nearly two decades, Smriti Irani has made a much-anticipated return to television, reprising her iconic role as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. The reboot is reportedly performing strongly in the ratings, echoing the phenomenal success of the original show in its prime. In a conversation with India Today, Smriti Irani addressed several ongoing debates in the entertainment industry, including discussions around actors’ entourages and the demand for an eight-hour work shift for both male and female performers.

Speaking about entourages, she said, “I don’t have an entourage. I’ve never had one. Television, for one can’t afford all these tantrums. Secondly, I’ve never had an entourage. I don’t walk around with security personnel, so I know that hogwash also came. I never walked around with security, that was ascribed to me even when I was a cabinet minister. So, if there are people and actors who get a high out of, you know, living this whole fake persona, I mean, you have to be so sad to do that.”

On the debate over work-hour limits, she acknowledged the challenges of television production but emphasized professional commitment. “Work hours are still a challenge, because we do have to work. You have to come up with a product every night for a set audience, you have a commitment to a network. You cannot say that the producer’s commitment shall not be honoured. Saying ‘I don’t feel like working today’ is not acceptable professionally,” she said.

Also Read | In Dhadak 2’s opening, Shazia Iqbal rewrites the politics of love at first sight as she interrogates the mythology of Shah Rukh Khan

When asked about recent discussions surrounding actor Deepika Padukone’s demand for an eight-hour work limit, Smriti called it as an “individual issue.” On whether such situations reflect gender disparities, she said men and women face different biological realities and therefore cannot be compared, particularly when it comes to pregnancy. Sharing her own experience, she recalled working through two pregnancies during the original Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi shoot. “I worked through two pregnancies on this very set with a female producer. I was determined to make her show a success. It was my choice, and I can’t expect others to make their decisions based on my work ethic. If I don’t turn up to work, 120 people don’t get paid that day. It’s unfair to them. My approach to work is rooted in accountability and discipline,” she said.

The larger debate began after Deepika Padukone reportedly exited two high-profile projects, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. Responding to the controversy, Deepika told Brut India: “I don’t think what I am asking for is ridiculously unfair and I think only someone who has worked in the system enough will know the conditions that we work in. And I am saying this, if I may say so myself, a top star, so you can only imagine what the working conditions must be like for everyone else, for the crew, for example.”

From the homepage