In an industry known for long hours and rigid hierarchies, Sayani Gupta believes real progress will come only when time and labour are valued equally across film sets. “Everybody works hard. Yes, acting is a taxing job if you’re doing it right, but the person carrying huge lights and travelling long distances by train is working far harder than the actors do,” she says.

For her, professionalism begins with respect. “Professionalism begins with respecting everyone’s time. If you have a meeting with a CEO or a big director, you make sure you are not late because of their social standing. But when the meeting is with someone considered lower in the hierarchy, people feel they can afford to be late. Punctuality should come from valuing every person equally, not from where they stand socially.”

She admits filmmaking is unpredictable, but believes basic systems can still be improved. “In my 14 years in the industry, I have been on only three or four sets where people are not racing to finish the day… Most of the time, you are working against the odds… sticking to the schedule is almost impossible.”

Even essentials, she says, are inconsistently managed. “There has to be some system in place, whether it is paying overtime or ensuring that fundamentals are taken care of. Even basics like access to clean bathrooms for women, hygiene, courtesy, fair segregation within departments, and food arrangements are inconsistent. People are sometimes served different types of food based on hierarchy.”

For Sayani, it ultimately comes down to fairness. “Everybody here works hard… But there should be equity in the way people are treated, whether it is pay parity, minimum wage or working hours. A streamlined approach would help everyone.”