Mumbai, February 5: The world of television may appear glamorous and vibrant from the outside, but it is filled with immense pressure on the inside. Viewers enjoy watching their favorite stars on screen daily, often unaware of the hard work, fatigue, and mental stress behind the scenes. Long shooting hours, constant work pressure, and limited personal time are part of the daily lives of television actors.
In a candid discussion, renowned small-screen actor Arjun Bijlani shed light on the challenges of working in the TV industry. He described the long working hours as extremely demanding. “While a 12-hour shift may be on paper, in reality, an actor’s entire day is consumed by work. Time spent commuting to and from the set, makeup, and often overtime add to the work hours,” he explained.
Arjun provided an example, stating, “If a shoot starts at 9 AM, the actor must wake up by 7 AM. Leaving home by 8 AM is essential to reach the set on time. Female actors are sometimes called in even earlier due to the extra time needed for makeup and preparation, making their days even longer.”
He added, “Shooting often runs until 9 PM, and sometimes even later. After shooting, actors need time to remove makeup and change clothes. Returning home through traffic presents another challenge. Many times, actors arrive home late at night, completely exhausted.”
Arjun emphasized, “The toughest part is having to repeat the same routine the next day. Before the body has fully rested, it’s back to work. This continuous cycle increases both mental and physical fatigue, impacting the health of the actors.”
Reflecting on his earlier days, Arjun recalled, “There was a time when I had to work much longer than scheduled. It sometimes felt like I worked 35 days in a 30-day month. That period was incredibly exhausting, both mentally and physically. However, conditions have improved compared to before. Previously, shoots could last 14, 15, or even 18 hours. Now, most producers try to wrap up within the scheduled 12 hours.”
When asked if an 8-hour shift should be implemented in the TV industry, Arjun Bijlani responded, “Technically, it is not feasible. When a show airs seven days a week, completing work in such a short time becomes challenging.”
He concluded, “If working hours are reduced to 8, it could affect the quality of the show. To deliver high-quality content to viewers, actors and the entire team need to work for 12 hours. Balancing work and health is crucial.”
