Television star Shweta Tiwari revealed on Bharti’s YouTube podcast that she once worked non-stop for 72 hours. Highlighting the harsh reality of daily soap shoots, she shared how exhausting and relentless the television industry can be.
Recalling her experience, she said, “Hum log poori industry main famous hai ki koi sota nahi tha. Mai 72 hours shoot karti thi. 30 days ka mahina hota hai, mereko 45 days ka cheque milta tha. Subah 7 se shaam ke 7 tak ek hota tha, shaam 7 se agle din subah 7 tak do hote the.”(We were known across the industry for never sleeping. I used to shoot for 72 hours straight. A month has 30 days, but I used to get paid for 45. One shift would be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then another from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day.)
Beyond her own schedule, Shweta also took a moment to appreciate the tireless dedication of television czarina Ektaa Kapoor. She recalled how Ektaa was equally involved in the creative process and matched the actors’ energy with her own fierce work ethic.”Vo sirf hum actors nahi karte the, Ektaa bhi karti thi. Ektaa soti nahi thi, uske paas 22 shows the. Jab bhi Ektaa ko phone karo vo ek ring me uthati thi,” she shared.(It wasn’t just us actors who worked like that, Ektaa did it too. She didn’t sleep; she had 22 shows running. Whenever you called her, she’d answer on the first ring.)
Shweta praised Ektaa’s clarity and creative passion: “Vo poora explain karti thi and ek baar Ekta ne explain kardiya, aap kahi galat jaa hi nahi sakte. Jab bhi vo line bolti thi (rehearsal main) ye lagta tha ki aapse better vo bol rahi hai. Kya passion tha!”(She would explain everything in detail. Once she did, there was no way you could go wrong. During rehearsals, it felt like she could deliver the lines better than you. That’s how passionate she was)
Reflecting on the changing times in the TV industry, Shweta noted, “Uss time vo audience ko impress karne ke liye show nahi banati thi, vo apne aapko khush rakhne ke liye banati thi, apni creativity, imagination ke liye show banati thi. Ab bas TRP hai, jo log dekhe vo banao.”(Back then, she didn’t create shows to impress the audience; she did it to satisfy herself—to express her creativity and imagination. Now it’s just about TRPs; make what gets views.)
Shweta Tiwari, who shot to fame as Prerna Sharma in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, continues to be remembered as one of the most iconic faces of Indian television. Her latest revelations offer a rare glimpse into the unseen sacrifices and passion that went into building India’s TV industry.
