Journalism of Courage

‘By virtue of being a woman, I’m called pushy’: Deepika Padukone on the backlash over her demanding an 8-hour workday; how gender double standards affect working women

Her statement raises important questions about how women asserting boundaries, whether at work, home, or in relationships, are often labelled as ‘difficult’ or ‘demanding’

By: Lifestyle Desk
New Delhi | October 10, 2025 04:27 PM IST

4 min read

Deepika Padukone breaks silence on gender bias and the price women pay for boundaries (Source: Photo by Ashish Shankar)

Actor Deepika Padukone has spoken out about what she believes are deeply rooted gender double standards in the Indian film industry. Her recent exits from Kalki 2898 AD and Spirit sparked headlines, with speculation that she had requested an 8-hour workday — something, she claims, male superstars have long been allowed to do without question.

In a recent interview with CNBC TV18, she said, “By virtue of being a woman, if that comes across as pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for 8 hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”

Deepika added, “I don’t want to take names now and make this into a whole thing, but it is very commonly, publicly known that a lot of male actors have been working for 8 hours a day for years. A lot of them only work for 8 hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends.”

But why are women often perceived as ‘pushy’ or ‘difficult’ when they assert boundaries or demand fair working conditions?

Gurleen Baruah, organisational psychologist and leadership coach at That Culture Thing, tells indianexpress.com, “This usually comes from unconscious biases people hold about gender. It’s called the double bind bias, which means that when a woman is assertive, direct, or firm, it’s often labelled as ‘aggressive’ or ‘pushy.’ When a man says the same thing, it’s seen as confidence and leadership.”

On the other side, she adds that if a woman is warm or accommodating, she’s seen as “too soft” and not leadership material. So, no matter which way she turns, there’s scrutiny. This isn’t just an individual bias — it’s deeply embedded in cultural and workplace norms that associate authority more naturally with men than women.

How can women learn to set boundaries at work without fearing judgment or backlash?

The fear doesn’t magically go away. “In many workplaces, the backlash is real. The question becomes: how do you assert yourself despite that fear? One part is language — using calm, direct communication like “I won’t be available after this hour” without over-explaining or apologising. The other part is internal work,” notes Baruah.

When you are clear about your worth and what you bring to the table, Baruah states, saying no feels less like a risk and more like self-respect. That inner clarity shows up in how the message lands. Over time, consistent boundaries often shift how people respond to you.

What can organisations or industries do to ensure that setting limits is seen as a matter of professionalism rather than gender?

Productivity and health go hand in hand, but many systems still reward overwork, extra hours, and burnout. Baruah stresses, “Organisations actually need to reframe what good work looks like, which is not staying late, but staying effective. That shift happens when leaders themselves respect downtime and model boundaries. When men and women both say no to overwork, it stops being a ‘women’s issue’ and starts being a workplace culture issue.”

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She mentions, “Research shows that when people rest and recover, creativity, focus, and motivation improve.” It’s not about working less but working sanely, and that actually boosts productivity. When boundaries are respected across the board, the quality of work gets better, not worse.

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