Preity Zinta breaks silence on 18-hour workdays during Bollywood comeback

Preity Zinta has opened up about the demanding work schedule she followed while making her Bollywood comeback, revealing that she worked for up to 18 hours a day during the filming of her upcoming movie Vibe.

The actress spoke about her experience at the trailer launch of Vibe in Mumbai, amid an ongoing discussion in Bollywood about long working hours. Zinta explained that her decision to work such extended shifts was largely connected to her family.

After spending a limited amount of time in India for the shoot, the actress wanted to complete her scenes as quickly as possible and return to the United States to be with her children. 

Preity wanted to finish filming quickly

Zinta explained that she was in India for around 30 to 40 days and wanted to make the most of every day. Instead of extending her stay, she chose to work longer hours so she could complete her professional commitments sooner.

She acknowledged that the schedule was not easy. The shoot involved action sequences and other challenges, while weather conditions and illness sometimes made the long days even more difficult. 

For Zinta, however, the goal was simple: finish the work and get back home to her children.

Her comments came as Bollywood continues to debate whether lengthy shooting schedules should become a thing of the past. The conversation gained fresh attention following discussions surrounding actress Deepika Padukone and her reported preference for shorter working hours on film sets.

A different perspective on Bollywood work culture

Rather than presenting her experience as a rule for everyone, Zinta emphasized that circumstances can be different for every actor.

Her remarks suggested that an 18-hour schedule was a personal choice based on her limited time in India and her desire to balance her career with family life. She also made it clear that filmmaking involves unpredictable situations and that long days can sometimes happen because of production demands. 

The discussion comes at an important moment in Zinta’s career. After being away from acting for several years, she returned to the big screen with Batwara 1947 and is now preparing for the release of Vibe.

Directed by Kunal Kemmu, Vibe combines comedy, action and spy-thriller elements. Zinta appears in an action-oriented role alongside Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastav. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 18, 2026. 

For Zinta, the demanding shoot was ultimately about balancing two important parts of her life: her passion for acting and her commitment to being present for her children.

Her experience offers a personal perspective on Bollywood’s work-hour debate, showing that behind every long shooting day, actors can have very different motivations and priorities.