‘How Can You Not Let Them Eat? Terrible’: Archana Puran Singh Slams Film Industry For Ignoring Crew Welfare

Concerns over long working hours and inadequate on-set facilities in the film industry continue to be raised by actors and crew alike. Recently, the cast of Toaster—including Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Abhishek Banerjee and Archana Puran Singh—spoke about these ongoing challenges. In a conversation with News18, Archana pointed out that shooting schedules often extend well beyond 12 hours, placing significant strain, particularly on crew members who endure physically demanding work under tough conditions.

She said, "Even then, they expect us to extend our work hours to 13-14 hours and skip lunch breaks. This is a kind of kanjoosi (stinginess) only. Kanjoosi is a mentality… How can you not let the light men, who hold their equipment and stand under the sun for hours, eat? They don’t have assistants like us bringing them fruits. It’s terrible."

ALSO READ: Archana Puran Singh's Son Opens Up On Her 'Rare' Health Condition CRPS: 'Never Going To Be Same Again'

She also recalled that some production houses had earned a reputation for being overly restrictive with food, with crew members even informally labeling them based on how small the meal portions were. According to her, such practices point to a deeper, long-standing issue within the industry.

Abhishek Banerjee pointed out that such small cost-cutting choices often reflect a larger mindset, where basic care and comfort on set are easily compromised.

ALSO READ: When Archana Puran Singh Did C-Grade, Cheap Films To Support Husband Parmeet Sethi

The debate around overwork intensified last year when Deepika Padukone reportedly stepped away from projects like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD after her demand for an eight-hour workday wasn’t met, reinforcing her stance on the need for healthier and more sustainable working conditions.