Actor and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone has taken a strong stance against recent remarks made by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who suggested that employees should work even on Sundays. Deepika, known for her vocal support of mental health awareness, expressed her displeasure with both the initial statement and the company’s subsequent clarification.
The Controversy
Subrahmanyan’s original remarks sparked outrage after 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.”
Deepika, sharing the quote on her Instagram Stories, called it “shocking” and added the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters to emphasize the need for work-life balance.
L&T’s Clarification
In response to the backlash, L&T issued a statement explaining the chairman’s comments, framing them as a call for dedication to nation-building. 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 realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”
Despite this, the company’s explanation failed to placate Deepika. Sharing the clarification on Instagram, she wrote, “And they just made it worse…”
Deepika’s Advocacy
Deepika’s strong response stems from her long-standing commitment to mental health awareness. Since opening up about her own battle with clinical depression in 2015, she has consistently spoken out about the importance of mental well-being. Through her Live, Love, Laugh Foundation, the actor works to destigmatize mental health challenges and promote a balanced lifestyle.
Professional Front
On the work front, Deepika was last seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. Her reaction to L&T’s stance underscores her belief that the well-being of employees should take precedence over corporate ambitions, especially in an era where workplace stress is increasingly being recognized as a critical issue.