After her fiery remark at SN Subrahmanyan's controversial statement, Deepika Padukone once again called out the company's attempt at justifying its actions.
Deepika Padukone was one of the first Bollywood celebs to publicly call out the chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), SN Subrahmanyan, for his remark on having 90-hour work weeks. Now, the diva has doubled down on her criticism of the company after its attempt to justify its chairman’s controversial remarks.
Subrahmanyan sparked outrage during an employee interaction when he proposed a 90-hour workweek and lamented the inability to make employees work on Sundays. His statement, which caused a frenzy on social media, was:
“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays… because I work on Sundays… What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, Get to the office and start working.”
Subrahmanyan’s remark has been widely criticised as insensitive and dismissive of work-life balance. His statement, paired with his references to East Asian economies with gruelling work cultures, set off a social media firestorm, with many accusing him of glorifying toxic workplace practices. Deepika was one of the celebrity figures to voice her concern against the same. On January 9, 2025, she reposted journalist, Faye D’Souza’s Instagram story, adding her own scathing remark:
“Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters.”
In response to the backlash, L&T issued a clarification defending Subrahmanyan’s comments, stating that they were intended to inspire employees to contribute to India’s development goals. This justification, however, did not sit well with many, and Deepika once again fired back at the company. She reposted L&T’s statement on her Instagram story with the caption, “And they just made it worse.”
For the uninitiated, Larsen & Toubro issued a statement amid the growing backlash for its chairman, SN Subrahmanyan’s 90-hour remarks. Defending their chairman, the company issued a statement that 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. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward.”
Subrahmanyan’s comments come in the wake of another controversial remark by Infosys co-founder, Narayana Murthy, who recently advocated for a 70-hour workweek for young professionals to enhance India’s global competitiveness. Deepika, who herself owns a brand named 82°E, has been quite vocal about the importance of mental health and promoting a balanced work culture.
What is your take on L&T’s justification statement, and Deepika’s clapback on the same?
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