Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 30: Director Farah Khan, who launched Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om (2007), addressed rumours about an alleged Instagram unfollow controversy with the actress, clarifying that they were never following each other on the platform.

Amid viral reports, Farah told Pinkvilla, “To begin with, we were not following each other earlier, too!! We had made a pact during the Happy New Year shoot that we wouldn't communicate on Instagram, instead, direct message and call. We don't even wish birthday wishes on Insta because Deepika doesn't like it. Also, my 8-hour comment wasn't a dig; it was to make Dilip say that he will now also work 8 hours when he actually works just for 2 hours!”

The speculation followed Farah’s repeated jokes about Deepika’s reported eight-hour work schedule in her vlogs. In one instance, Farah remarked during a visit to Radhikka Madan’s home, “Aise tapke hi toh sona banta hai (this is how gold is made),” seemingly referencing Deepika’s shorter work hours. During another vlog at Rohit Saraf’s home, Farah joked about Deepika’s availability, saying, “Deepika Padukone ab sirf 8 ghanta shoot karti hai, usko show pe aane ka time nahi hai (She now shoots only for 8 hours, she doesn't have time to come to our show).”

The actress’s eight-hour work demand has previously caused friction with film projects. She was recently dropped from Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD sequel and exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal over reported differences regarding work hours, salary, profit-sharing, and entourage costs. Deepika has yet to comment publicly on these developments.

Currently, Deepika has started shooting for Shah Rukh Khan’s King, marking their sixth collaboration on screen. Farah maintained that her remarks were light-hearted and not intended as criticism.