Deepika Padukone Slams L&T Chairman’s 90-Hour Work Comment: ‘They Just Made It Worse’

“Actor and mental health advocate criticises work-life balance remarks, sparking a larger conversation on mental well-being.”

January 10, 2025: Deepika Padukone, a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, has expressed her strong disapproval of L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyam’s controversial remarks regarding working on Sundays. The actor shared her reaction via Instagram stories, calling out the senior executive for his statement, which has since sparked a heated debate online about work-life balance and mental health.

Deepika reposted a news report by journalist Faye D’Souza on her Instagram story, writing, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements,” followed by the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters.

The controversy began when a video clip of Subrahmanyam’s comments went viral on Reddit. During an interaction, he said, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working.”

Also Read: Work on Sundays Too: L&T Chairman Sparks Outrage with Work-Life Balance Remarks

Facing significant backlash, L&T issued a clarification, emphasizing the company’s focus on “nation-building” and the need for “extraordinary effort” to achieve progress. The statement read:
“At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”

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Deepika responded to the clarification by sharing it on Instagram with the caption, “And they just made it worse…”

As someone who has openly battled depression and founded the Live Love Laugh Foundation to support mental health initiatives, Deepika’s criticism highlights the growing importance of mental well-being in the workplace. Her response has resonated with many online, reigniting conversations about the need for work-life balance and a humane approach to corporate culture.

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On the personal front, Deepika Padukone and her husband, Ranveer Singh, recently welcomed their first child in September 2024. She was last seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again and continues to advocate for mental health awareness through her foundation.

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Deepika Padukone, L&T Chairman controversy, mental health awareness, work-life balance, corporate culture, Live Love Laugh Foundation, SN Subrahmanyam, 90-hour workweek, work-life debate, mental health in the workplace.