Vikrant Massey: India needs 40-50 years of hard work before 4-day week
Synopsis
Vikrant Massey has made a bold case against the four-day work week for India, arguing the country needs at least 30 to 50 more years of hard work to fulfil its potential — a view that cuts against the global tide of reduced-hour experiments gaining ground in Europe. The comments came as he promotes his Netflix debut series 'Musafir Cafe'.
Key Takeaways
Vikrant Massey stated that a four-day work week is not yet feasible for India , calling it a 'very complex issue' .
He argued India, as a developing economy and 'very young democracy' , needs at least 30 to 50 more years of sustained hard work.
Massey contrasted India's situation with Northern European countries where shorter work weeks have already been adopted.
He noted that entertainment industry shoots, though nominally 12-hour shifts , often involve only 4-5 hours of actual filming, but can stretch to 16-17 hours due to budget pressures.
His Netflix series 'Musafir Cafe' , directed by Ruchir Arun , premieres on 24 July alongside co-stars Mahima Makwana and Vedika Pinto .
Actor Vikrant Massey has weighed in on the ongoing debate around shorter work weeks, asserting that a four-day work week is not yet a viable option for India given the country's stage of economic development. The actor made these remarks on 22 July during promotions for his upcoming Netflix series 'Musafir Cafe'.
India Not Ready for a Four-Day Work Week
Massey described the subject as a 'very complex issue' and drew a sharp contrast between India and developed nations, particularly those in Northern Europe, where shorter work weeks have gained mainstream traction. He argued that India's economic realities are fundamentally different and that the country still has considerable ground to cover.
'If you talk about life or working like some countries, especially in Northern Europe, where four-day work weeks are followed, I don't think we can do that here. We are still a developing economy. We are a very young democracy. We have to achieve a lot as a country, not just for ourselves, but for the next generation as well,' Massey said.
Decades of Hard Work Ahead
The actor stressed that sustained effort over the coming decades would be essential for India to realise its full potential. 'I believe that if we really want to see India grow and realise its true potential, then as a young country, for at least the next 30, 40 or even 50 years, we have to work really hard,' he added.
This comes amid a broader global conversation on work-life balance, with countries like Iceland, Belgium, and Japan either trialling or formally adopting reduced work-week models. India, by contrast, has seen recurring debates about extending working hours in certain sectors, reflecting a starkly different policy direction.
Realities of the Entertainment Industry
Massey also shed light on the specific pressures of working in Bollywood and the wider entertainment sector, which he described as a 'cost-heavy industry'. He noted that despite nominal 12-hour shifts, actual shoot time is often only four to five hours, while budget constraints can push schedules to 16 to 17 hours on demanding days.
'Even if we have a 12-hour shift, we don't actually shoot for 12 hours. We probably shoot for only four or five hours. Sometimes we have to shoot for 16-17 hours because there are budgets and practical realities,' he explained.
About Musafir Cafe
Massey's comments came during the promotional run for 'Musafir Cafe', a romantic drama series directed by Ruchir Arun and set to premiere on Netflix on 24 July. The show, which also stars Mahima Makwana and Vedika Pinto, explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Massey plays the character Chander and has described the script as one of the finest he has encountered, noting that the role pushed him to emotional depths he had not previously explored as an actor.
Point of View
But rarely stated so plainly by a public figure — that India's development imperatives override work-life balance aspirations that are, for now, a luxury of the Global North. What the debate often misses is that productivity, not hours logged, drives economic growth; Europe's four-day week pilots have largely held output steady. The real question for India is not whether workers can afford to work less, but whether industries can be organised efficiently enough that fewer hours still deliver more. Massey's entertainment industry example — where a 12-hour shift yields only four to five hours of actual output — inadvertently makes the case for structural reform over sheer endurance.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vikrant Massey say about the four-day work week in India?
Vikrant Massey said India is not yet ready for a four-day work week, arguing the country is still a developing economy with decades of growth ahead. He believes India needs to work hard for at least the next 30 to 50 years to realise its full potential.
Why does Massey think India cannot adopt a four-day work week now?
He cited India's status as a developing economy and a young democracy, contrasting it with Northern European nations where shorter work weeks have gained traction. According to Massey, India still has significant national goals to achieve for current and future generations.
What is 'Musafir Cafe' and when does it release?
'Musafir Cafe' is a Netflix romantic drama series directed by Ruchir Arun, starring Vikrant Massey as Chander alongside Mahima Makwana and Vedika Pinto. It premieres on Netflix on 24 July and explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.
What did Vikrant Massey say about working hours in the entertainment industry?
Massey described the entertainment industry as cost-heavy, noting that despite nominal 12-hour shifts, actual shooting time is often only four to five hours. Budget pressures, he said, can push shoot days to 16 or 17 hours.
Which countries currently follow a four-day work week?
Several Northern European nations, including Iceland and Belgium, have trialled or adopted shorter work weeks, according to Massey's remarks. He used these countries as a point of contrast to argue that India's economic circumstances are not yet comparable.
