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LIGHTS, CAMERA... COLLAPSE!
Money, fame, insecurity and pleasing producers. What pushes TV stars to stretch their limits? BT explores
ROSHNI OLIVERA Times News Network
They shoot for 16 to 20 hours everyday and yet manage to look good on the small screen. No dark circles, no signs of fatigue. That's the story of our TV stars. But there's a twist. Actors do feel the strain of being under the arclights. Not surprising then that some of them faint on the sets. Most recent was Ashlesha Sawant who collapsed during the shoot of Saat Phere... and had to be propped by her colleagues so that she could continue shooting. Some time ago, Roshni Chopra had collapsed on the sets of Kasamh Se. Rakshak Sawhney, the original Kavya of Kavyanjali, was out of the show as he couldn't cope with the gruelling working schedule. TV actors' exertion is relatively a recent phenomenon, especially since the daily soap trend began a few years ago. Most top actors are working in two to three serials at a time, with their day beginning as early as seven in the morning and stretching until night. It's obviously for fame and money that the actors are enduring all the stress. But it's also insecurity that's prompting them to lap up as much work that comes their way. "A TV career is usually short-lived because viewers always want to see newer faces. So the actors want to make as much money as possible while they are getting good work," says director Ajai
Sinha. Some top actors have another reason too. "Sometimes, you do not want to turn down producers' job offers because then they may get upset with you and never repeat you again. So, some actors end up doing many shows at once and face a burn out in the process," says an actor, who does not wish to be named.
But what about the illeffects of their work schedules? Dr Anil Patil, consulting physician of integrated medicine, says, "TV actors' food habits are erratic. This causes acidity, indigestion, constipation and migraine. So also due to intense lighting on the sets, some develop photosensitivity when they are outside. Some of them suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, whereby they feel lethargic, have body aches and go through depression. There could be long term effects like hair loss or skin problems too."
The ideal working hours for anybody is eight, or could be stretched to 10 hours, he says. "One should also have a weekly off, may be even two days to rejuvenate," says Dr Patil. But two days is a distant dream for many in the industry. For those wondering if there are any laws governing the working of the TV industry, there are none. "Actors are professionals. There's no fixed time for them. It's a contract between them and the producer. If somebody is unhappy with the working hours, he can walk out. But there are no set rules, like it is with industrial units or government offices," says lawyer Satish Maneshinde.
At the end of the day, it's the decision of the actors whether they want to stretch themselves beyond limits. "We're doing it because we want to," says Ejaz Khan, who's currently doing two serials. Adds Roshni Chopra, who's doing two daily soaps and anchoring a show, "Actors are obsessive and dedicated so much that sometimes one tends to test the limits of one's own body. You are constantly pushing yourself. But, it's a phase. And you move on after a point when you need space outside your work to grow as an individual."
Sinha. Some top actors have another reason too. "Sometimes, you do not want to turn down producers' job offers because then they may get upset with you and never repeat you again. So, some actors end up doing many shows at once and face a burn out in the process," says an actor, who does not wish to be named.
But what about the illeffects of their work schedules? Dr Anil Patil, consulting physician of integrated medicine, says, "TV actors' food habits are erratic. This causes acidity, indigestion, constipation and migraine. So also due to intense lighting on the sets, some develop photosensitivity when they are outside. Some of them suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, whereby they feel lethargic, have body aches and go through depression. There could be long term effects like hair loss or skin problems too."
The ideal working hours for anybody is eight, or could be stretched to 10 hours, he says. "One should also have a weekly off, may be even two days to rejuvenate," says Dr Patil. But two days is a distant dream for many in the industry. For those wondering if there are any laws governing the working of the TV industry, there are none. "Actors are professionals. There's no fixed time for them. It's a contract between them and the producer. If somebody is unhappy with the working hours, he can walk out. But there are no set rules, like it is with industrial units or government offices," says lawyer Satish Maneshinde.
At the end of the day, it's the decision of the actors whether they want to stretch themselves beyond limits. "We're doing it because we want to," says Ejaz Khan, who's currently doing two serials. Adds Roshni Chopra, who's doing two daily soaps and anchoring a show, "Actors are obsessive and dedicated so much that sometimes one tends to test the limits of one's own body. You are constantly pushing yourself. But, it's a phase. And you move on after a point when you need space outside your work to grow as an individual."
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