Actor Kunal Kemmu has found himself at the center of a social media storm after comments he made regarding work-life balance and motherhood went viral. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the internet labeled the actor “misogynistic” and “patriarchal” following his reaction to Deepika Padukone’s reported demand for shorter working hours.
The “Incubation Period” Remark
During a podcast with his wife, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal addressed the ongoing debate about female actors requesting 8-hour shifts to manage childcare.
- The Argument: Kunal argued that one cannot demand more pay for fewer hours unless they are the producer of the film.
- The Controversy: When Soha pointed out the difficulty of balancing a peaking career with motherhood, Kunal responded, “You still have a choice, there’s an incubation period of nine months, you can plan it… your planning can’t affect the way the world is working.”
Internet Backlash
The comments sparked a heated debate on platforms like Reddit:
- Criticism: Users slammed his “project-management” approach to pregnancy, with one writing, “Incubation period? What is he talking about? A group project?!!” Others pointed out that male stars like Akshay Kumar have long maintained 8-hour schedules without facing similar scrutiny.
- Defense: A smaller section of users defended him, suggesting his point was about professional accountability and that he did acknowledge “accidental pregnancies” as an exception.
Deepika’s Stand
The debate stems from Deepika Padukone’s reported exit from projects like Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. Reports suggest she requested 8-hour shifts and a profit share to balance work with raising her daughter, Dua.
National Landscape: March 12, 2026
As the Bollywood controversy trends, the country is navigating a significant geopolitical and energy crisis:
- Hormuz Crisis: Two Indian tankers, SCI Pushpak and SCI Piramal, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz today without escort, even as 19 other ships have been hit by Iranian projectiles recently.
- Energy Shortage: The Essential Commodities Act is in full effect. Mumbai’s BMC Canteen and many local eateries are down to their last two days of LPG, while the government has made Aadhaar e-KYC mandatory for domestic refills.
- Judicial History: The legal world is still reeling from yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling allowing passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, ending his 13-year vegetative state.
- IPL 2026: Cricket excitement is peaking as the full schedule was unveiled last night, confirming the RCB vs CSK opener on March 28.
- Ramadan 2026: Muslims in Mumbai are observing the second day of Ramadan, with Iftar scheduled for 6:46 PM today.