Deepika Padukone slams L&T chairman's 'Work on Sundays' remark, sparks debate on work-life balance
The actress says defending a 90-hour work week isn't good for mental health
Dubai: Indian actress Deepika Padukone, known for championing mental health awareness, voiced her disapproval over a controversial remark by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan about making his employees work on Sundays.
The corporate boss was an advocate of 90-hour week.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, the Piku actress shared her thoughts, calling the statement "shocking" and adding the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters to highlight the importance of work-life balance.
The uproar began when a video of Subrahmanyan went viral on social media.
In it, he expressed his regret at not being able to make employees work on Sundays, saying:
“I feel unhappy that I can’t make you work on Sundays. I work on Sundays, so why not you? What’s the point of sitting at home? How long can you look at your wife? How long can the wives look at their husbands? Come to work!”
This comment sparked widespread criticism online, with many accusing the senior executive of promoting a toxic work culture.
Following the backlash, L&T issued a statement attempting to clarify the intent behind the remark. The company’s response read:
“At L&T, our focus is on nation-building. For more than eight decades, we have contributed to shaping India’s infrastructure and technological capabilities. This is a crucial period for India’s development, and achieving extraordinary outcomes requires extraordinary effort. We remain committed to fostering a culture of passion, purpose, and performance.”
However, Deepika was not convinced by this explanation. Sharing a screenshot of L&T’s statement, she remarked, “And they just made it worse...”
The incident has ignited a broader debate about the importance of mental wellbeing and the boundaries between work and personal life.
