Mani Ratnam Opens Up On Industry Working Hours

Mani Ratnam doesn’t chase headlines, but when he speaks, the industry listens. Days before his film Thug Life hits theatres on June 5, the legendary filmmaker addressed an issue that’s been simmering under the surface: the exhausting schedules that actors and crew silently endure. Without naming names, he nodded to the recent buzz around Deepika Padukone reportedly walking out of a big project due to long working hours. “I think this is a right demand,” he said, adding that he would always be open to such requests as a director.

The statement wasn’t made in passing. It marked a rare moment where a veteran backed the new wave of actors pushing back against unhealthy industry norms. For Mani Ratnam, change is not just welcome, it is necessary. “Actors should feel comfortable making these calls. That’s a good thing,” he noted, hinting that setting boundaries does not weaken professionalism, it strengthens it.

While speaking on the sidelines of his film’s promotions, he was also asked about the constant murmurs of a reunion with Rajinikanth, decades after their cult classic Thalapathy. Ratnam didn’t confirm or deny. He simply smiled and said, “You should ask Rajinikanth about this. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait and see.” It was a typical Mani move: measured, layered, and just vague enough to stir speculation.

Once Thug Life is out, the director isn’t rushing into the next big thing. “I have four ideas, none of them fully ready,” he said. After decades of storytelling, he has earned the space to pause. And when he chooses to return, it will be on his own terms, not the industry’s clock.