The glamorous world of television often dazzles audiences with lights, drama, and entertainment. But behind the glitter, there lies an untold story of struggle, sacrifice, and exhaustion. Recently, actor Ashnoor Kaur, currently seen as a contestant on Bigg Boss 19, opened up about the harsh realities she faced as a child actor — stories that shed light on the darker side of the television industry.
Ashnoor, who started her acting journey at a very young age, revealed that she once worked 30 hours at a stretch when she was just six years old. In a shocking confession, she also admitted to fainting on set after starving herself for days, battling insecurities, and struggling with body image issues during her teenage years. Her story has reignited conversations about the work culture in the Indian television industry, sparking debates about child actors’ rights, mental health, and the urgent need for reform.
Ashnoor Kaur’s Journey: From Child Actor to Bigg Boss House
Ashnoor Kaur is not a new face to television audiences. She began her career with the show Shobha Somnath Ki at the age of six. Since then, she has appeared in popular TV series and built a reputation as one of the most promising young actors. But the price she paid for early success was extremely high.
In a candid interview, Ashnoor recalled the time she worked for 30 straight hours without proper rest. At such a tender age, she had no choice but to push through extreme exhaustion. Her mother tried to help her by letting her nap in the vanity van for a short while, but the production team was waiting outside to resume shooting.
Later in life, she also struggled with body image issues — a pressure that many young actors face in the entertainment world. Ashnoor admitted that she followed extreme diets, sometimes surviving only on water, which eventually led to her fainting on set. She confessed that she didn’t tell anyone about her condition because she didn’t want to be judged or lose opportunities.
A Pattern Across the TV Industry
Ashnoor’s story is not unique. Several other television actors have spoken up about the toxic work culture that prevails in the industry.
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Radhika Madan was among the first to highlight how TV shoots often demanded unrealistic hours.
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Shweta Tiwari, another well-known face, revealed that she once worked for three days in a row without sleep. Her grueling schedules often stretched from 7 am to 2 am the next day, and she admitted that the industry was infamous for having no rest or balance.
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Actor Hiten Tejwani shared that he sometimes worked for more than 24 to 48 hours at a stretch. He described how actors would nap on set using black cloths as makeshift covers while waiting for lighting setups.
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Krystle D’Souza revealed that she once shot for 60 hours non-stop and fainted multiple times on set. She even had to get IV drips administered right there because there was no time to visit a hospital.
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Veteran actor and politician Smriti Irani recounted an incident when she was asked to return to work the very next day after a miscarriage. She said she had to confront producer Ekta Kapoor and prove her medical condition with documents, highlighting the lack of empathy and compassion in the system.
These testimonies point to a troubling pattern: a culture where actors are treated as machines rather than humans, where mental and physical health take a backseat to production deadlines.
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The Pressures Behind the Scenes
Television is one of the most demanding mediums in the entertainment world. Unlike films or web series, where shoots are planned well in advance, TV shows often have daily telecasts, leaving little room for delays. Missing a deadline means disrupting the broadcast, which could affect viewership and advertising revenue.
As a result, actors and crew members are pushed to their limits. Long working hours, back-to-back shifts, and lack of rest have become the norm. Child actors, unfortunately, are not spared from this grind.
Apart from physical strain, appearance and body image also play a huge role in the industry. The pressure to look a certain way often drives actors — especially young ones — to adopt unhealthy habits like crash diets, excessive exercise, or skipping meals. Ashnoor’s confession about surviving on water-only diets is a worrying reminder of how these standards can lead to long-term health issues.
The Role of Reality TV in Sharing These Stories
Interestingly, it is platforms like Bigg Boss that have given actors a space to share these stories openly. Contestants often reveal personal struggles in candid conversations, which helps viewers see the human side of celebrities beyond the glamour.
For Ashnoor, participating in Bigg Boss 19 is not just about entertainment but also about showing her journey of resilience. By speaking up about her past struggles, she is giving voice to many other young actors who might be silently enduring similar challenges.
The Larger Conversation: Rights, Regulations, and Reforms
The revelations by Ashnoor and others raise an important question: Is it time to regulate working conditions in the TV industry more strictly?
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Child Actor Protection: Children should not be made to work long hours. There must be strict enforcement of laws ensuring limited hours, proper rest, and healthy working conditions.
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Mental Health Support: Actors, especially young ones, should have access to counseling and support systems to deal with pressures of body image and competition.
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Work Hour Regulations: Just like corporate sectors, the entertainment industry also needs clear limits on working hours, with mandatory breaks and rest periods.
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Compassionate Policies: Incidents like Smriti Irani’s miscarriage story highlight the need for basic empathy and human-centered policies in production houses.
Why This Matters
Television is a powerful medium that entertains millions every day. But the cost at which this content is created should not be human suffering. Stories like Ashnoor’s remind us that behind the smiles and glamour are hardworking individuals battling extreme challenges.
The conversation is not just about one actor fainting on set — it’s about an industry that needs to evolve. The audience, too, plays a role. By demanding better standards and supporting reforms, viewers can encourage production houses to prioritize well-being over deadlines.
Conclusion
Ashnoor Kaur’s revelations from her time as a child actor are heartbreaking but necessary. They bring to light the reality that the entertainment industry often tries to brush under the carpet. Along with other actors who have spoken up, Ashnoor’s voice adds to a growing movement calling for healthier, safer, and more respectful working environments in television.
As she continues her journey in Bigg Boss 19, her courage to share her struggles will hopefully inspire change. After all, true entertainment should not come at the cost of an actor’s health, dignity, or childhood.
