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MUMBAI: Television actors work hard to entertain their audience and so are technicians and others. However, working without a weekly off takes a toll on emotional and physical health.
In fact, over the past few months, there have been several cases of artistes falling ill, and suffering from anxiety because of sheer exhaustion. Many have voiced their concerns over the issue, but in vain. Here’s taking a look at what actors, producers and industry organisations have to say about the issue. Take a look below.
Sushant Singh
Sushant Singh, General Secretary, Cine And TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), said, “This dialogue has been going on for a long time now, but nothing concrete has happened. Also, apart from the producers agreeing to give a chutti, the actors need to stand united and ask for one. Only if they take a unanimous stand can we do something.”
Amit Behl
Amit Behl, Senior Joint Secretary, CINTAA, said, “We have had discussions with the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), and they understand the issue of actors facing exhaustion. However, everyone seems to be helpless, as a bank of episodes has to be maintained, no matter what. All stakeholders — broadcasters, producers, the FWICE and CINTAA — need to reach a consensus to avoid further casualties. The digital world is slowly eating into TV ratings, and for a healthy co-existence, TV writers and creators, along with actors, need to have some breathing space. That will help them give good output, which will eventually generate good ratings.”
Gul Khan
Producer Gul Khan said, “A weekly holiday should be made mandatory, not just for actors, the entire cast and crew needs it. The daily soap industry is tough on technicians, too. After pack-up, directors don’t go home, they go to the editing table. On a rare day off, while everybody else is at home, writers work to create a bank of episodes and the creative team goes to scout the next location. I don’t think weekly offs are not implemented due to lack of unity. The only reason is the quantity of work that has to be delivered on a daily basis. It’s easy to say that we should have a bank of episodes, but there are genuine practical issues. For example, an actor could fall ill, forcing you to rewrite the script. Or maybe, the track you aired last month didn’t go well with the audience and you are back to the storyboard. Or, rains may leave you with no option but to rewrite the outdoor-based track. Churning out 22 high-quality episodes every month is no easy feat.”
Rajan Shahi
Producer Rajan Shahi said, “Weekly offs should be worked out between the producers and actors. People are treating this as a generic issue, but weekly offs should be given on the basis of individual actor’s work load and shoot requirements. On my sets, we have always been open to requests of reporting late. In fact, during the year-end, many actors say that they would like to shoot for more hours so that they can take a short holiday during the New Year. But just saying that it should be standardised doesn’t work in the interest of the show.”
Here’s what some of the actors had to say:
Yesha Rugani
Muskaan actor Yesha Rugani said, “I have not got an off for 30 days in a row. And every single day, I worked for 15 hours. I like to remain fit, but this hectic schedule doesn’t leave me with any time to exercise. I don’t even get time to go to the salon. We lose our health and with no holidays, it becomes difficult to function. It also affects our temperament. I am suffering from skin allergies, but I cannot undergo treatment, as that would mean not wearing make-up.”
Arjun Bijlani
Ishq Mein Marjawan fame actor Arjun Bijlani said, “My show ended last month, but I barely got any holidays. As per my contract, I was entitled to a weekly off on Sundays, but in the entire year I managed to get an off only on four Sundays. The remaining days, I worked for a few hours because of telecast issues. I didn’t get much time to spend with my family. My son would be asleep by the time I reached home. It’s high time the industry came up with a solution to this.”
Paridhi Sharma
Patiala Babes actress Paridhi Sharma said, “I am a working mom, and I feel that the entire industry should get a weekly off — it is essential to spend time with our loved ones and most importantly, rest. A year ago, CINTAA was planning to announce Sunday as a weekly off for the entire industry, but telecast issues and having no bank of episodes have not let that happen. My family is here — my in-laws and parents, who look after my child. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for me to work. Our industry should become as organised as the industries abroad. A weekly off will be a blessing for all.”
Gaurav Chopraa
Gaurav Chopraa, who is known for the show Aghori, said, “If someone can manage to get us actors our weekly offs, it will be a blessing. It’s the need of the hour, but the fact of the matter is, the industry functions as per the telecast schedule, which is time-bound. In a way, the service that we provide is supposed to reach the people with a particular quality and at a particular time. If you understand that aspect, then you realise that it all revolves around a time frame. Having said that, you don’t get scripts on time, so execution can’t begin in advance, and eventually, it becomes a race against time. And that leads to you shooting seven days a week, 365 days a year and for more hours than required. It’s common practice to shoot 15 hours when we are supposed to shoot only for 12 hours. It’s a part of the package and the responsibility of the lead actor. It is physically and emotionally taxing and takes away a lot from your life. But I don’t see a weekly off becoming a reality for us in the near future.”
Rohitashv Gour
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai actor Rohitashv Gour said, “TV actors have no family life. My show is telecast is from Monday to Friday, and I still find it difficult to take time off. That makes me wonder about those actors, whose shows are telecast from Monday to Saturday. Your growth as an actor also stops if you don’t get time to relax. Ideally, we should shoot for 21-22 days and then a break of eight days.”
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