Rani Mukerji is the latest actor to weigh in on the eight-hour working shift, which, according to multiple reports, was requested by actor Deepika Padukone before exiting Prabhas' film, Kalki's sequel. Now, Rani, a National Film Award winner, has recalled her experience while filming for Hichki (2018). "I would like to take you back to my time when I did Hichki because I did the film when my daughter Adira was 14 months old, and I was still breastfeeding her. I had to pump the milk and go in the morning. I had to go to a college in town (South Mumbai). So, from my house in the suburbs in Juhu to that place in traffic takes about two hours. So, I kind of made it a thing where in the morning, I would leave at around 6.30 after expressing my milk," Mukerji said on the ANI. The Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway actor continued, "My first shot used to be at 8 in the morning, and I used to wrap up everything by 12.30-1 pm. I must say that my unit and my director were so well-planned that, for the 6-7 hours I spent on the shoot, I would finish before the traffic started in town and be home by 3 pm. I did my film like that." According to her, these "things are up in conversation today because maybe people are discussing it outside, but this has been the norm with all professions". "I have also done it where I have worked a certain number of hours if the producers are okay with it. If not, you don't do the film. It's also a choice. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody," said Mukerji. Taking a cue from her, let's explore the dynamics of breastfeeding and adapt to today's times. Rani Mukerji’s confession is not just about Bollywood. It is a mirror for millions of women in corporate corridors, hospitals, classrooms, and factories. "Whether it’s a nurse finishing a night shift, a teacher preparing lessons after bedtime, or a corporate leader returning from maternity leave, the battle is the same: juggling motherhood with professional identity, often without systemic support," said Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist and life coach. Rani’s take is not about celebrity struggle. "It’s about every mother who packs a breast pump in her work bag, every woman who dries her tears in the cab before a client meeting, every parent who sacrifices personal comfort to hold both dreams and diapers together," expressed Delnna. What needs to change: Redesign work hours: 8-hour workdays should not be a luxury, said Delnna. "They should be a standard, especially in industries with gruelling shifts," said Delnna. Normalise flexibility: Work-from-home options, hybrid schedules, and staggered hours are not perks; they’re necessities for working parents, mentioned Delnna. Create support systems: According to Delnna, on-site childcare, breastfeeding rooms, and empathetic policies are not favours. These are rights. Shift the lens: Instead of glorifying sacrifice, we must honour systemic change. "The world doesn’t just need stronger mothers. It needs stronger systems that see them, support them, and stand beside them. Because true empowerment is not about applauding women who 'manage it all'. It’s about creating a world where they don’t have to," Delnna said. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.
